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Not a good week for space then.



 
 
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  #1  
Old November 2nd 14, 08:36 AM posted to sci.space.station
Brian Gaff[_2_]
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Default Not a good week for space then.

So that is two mishaps with Orbital and Virgin, lets hope the bad luck run
is now at an end.

Does anyone know the details of what SS2 was actually trying to do when it
crashed?
Brian

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  #3  
Old November 3rd 14, 08:55 AM posted to sci.space.station
snidely
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Posts: 1,303
Default Not a good week for space then.

On Sunday or thereabouts, Jeff Findley asked ...
In article , says...

So that is two mishaps with Orbital and Virgin, lets hope the bad luck run
is now at an end.

Does anyone know the details of what SS2 was actually trying to do when it
crashed?


Test flight. Not sure of the actual goals, but they have been using a
new propellant in their hybrid engine. I personally detest large
hybrids as much as large solids. They have many of the same drawbacks
and failure modes.


There is some indication it wasn't the motor, though.

The CBS report of a statement by the NTSB is

quote
But Hart said Sunday that investigators "found the fuel tanks, the
oxidizer tanks and the engine, and all were intact, showed no signs of
burn through, no signs of being breached."

Instead, investigators found video evidence and telemetry indicating
SpaceShipTwo's twin tail booms, known as "feathers," apparently
deployed prematurely.
/quote

Earlier in the report, and perhaps earlier in the presentation,

quote
"What I'm about to say is a statement of fact and not a statement of
cause," Hart said. "We are a long way from finding cause, we still have
months and months of investigation, there's a lot that we don't know."
/quote

/dps

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Who, me? And what lacuna?
  #5  
Old November 3rd 14, 09:11 AM posted to sci.space.station
Brian Gaff[_2_]
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Posts: 58
Default Not a good week for space then.

Oh a software glitch then. However the BBC here keep onsaysaying it
exploded. I think this might just be reporter speak for parts broke off
destabilising the craft which then broke up.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Snidely" wrote in message
news:mn.159b7deb8ba856b4.127094@snitoo...
On Sunday or thereabouts, Jeff Findley asked ...
In article , says...

So that is two mishaps with Orbital and Virgin, lets hope the bad luck
run is now at an end.

Does anyone know the details of what SS2 was actually trying to do when
it crashed?


Test flight. Not sure of the actual goals, but they have been using a
new propellant in their hybrid engine. I personally detest large hybrids
as much as large solids. They have many of the same drawbacks and
failure modes.


There is some indication it wasn't the motor, though.

The CBS report of a statement by the NTSB is

quote
But Hart said Sunday that investigators "found the fuel tanks, the
oxidizer tanks and the engine, and all were intact, showed no signs of
burn through, no signs of being breached."

Instead, investigators found video evidence and telemetry indicating
SpaceShipTwo's twin tail booms, known as "feathers," apparently deployed
prematurely.
/quote

Earlier in the report, and perhaps earlier in the presentation,

quote
"What I'm about to say is a statement of fact and not a statement of
cause," Hart said. "We are a long way from finding cause, we still have
months and months of investigation, there's a lot that we don't know."
/quote

/dps

--
Who, me? And what lacuna?



  #6  
Old November 3rd 14, 09:32 AM posted to sci.space.station
Brian Gaff[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 58
Default Not a good week for space then.

Well, sounds pretty primative. No detail there about the crash, but there is
surely some sequencing in c such a complex deploy mechanism, which if not
done right might result in stresses on part of the airframe outside of the
safety zone, so to speak.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Snidely" wrote in message
news:mn.159f7deb48527968.127094@snitoo...
After serious thinking Jeff Findley wrote :
In article , says...

So that is two mishaps with Orbital and Virgin, lets hope the bad luck
run is now at an end.

Does anyone know the details of what SS2 was actually trying to do when
it crashed?


Test flight. Not sure of the actual goals, but they have been using a
new propellant in their hybrid engine.


I think various reports said it was the first powered flight by SS2 with
the new propellant. In September, the feathering mechanism was tested in
an unpowered flight. There is an indication that the latter may have
deployed prematurely on this flight.


I personally detest large hybrids as much as large solids. They have
many of the same drawbacks and failure modes.


To be sure, but it is early to blame them, especially in the light of new
reports that the tanks were found intact.

Interesting article about the job of flying these babies:

http://www.wired.com/2014/10/hard-to-fly-spaceshiptwo/

/dps

--
Who, me? And what lacuna?



  #10  
Old November 3rd 14, 06:36 PM posted to sci.space.station
snidely
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,303
Default Not a good week for space then.

On Monday, November 3, 2014 2:57:04 AM UTC-8, Jeff Findley wrote:

This sort of thing grates on my nerves. An "explosion" is a very
specific thing (in layman's terms, "boom!"). Breaking apart by means of
aerodynamic forces is not an "explosion". Reporters need to get this
sort of thing right.


Well, the initial reports were being made from a less-than-ideal vantage point, so there's lots of opportunity to be confused.

/dps
 




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