SpaceShipOne completes second drop test
Posted: Mon, Sep 8, 2003, 8:42 AM ET (1242 GMT)
SpaceShipOne, the suborbital RLV being developed for the X Prize, completed its second successful drop test late last month. The spacecraft was dropped from its carrier aircraft, White Knight, on August 27 while flying 13,000 meters above the Mojave Desert. SpaceShipOne glided to a runway landing ten and a half minutes after deployment. The drop test was the first test of the vehicle's unique ability to feather, or raise, its tail section. This maneuver will be performed by the spacecraft during its initial descent on suborbital flights, allowing the vehicle to maintain a stable configuration during descent with little need for active guidance. During this test flight SpaceShipOne flew in the fully-feathered configuration for about 70 seconds.
SpaceShipOne, the suborbital RLV being developed for the X Prize, completed its second successful drop test late last month. The spacecraft was dropped from its carrier aircraft, White Knight, on August 27 while flying 13,000 meters above the Mojave Desert. SpaceShipOne glided to a runway landing ten and a half minutes after deployment. The drop test was the first test of the vehicle's unique ability to feather, or raise, its tail section. This maneuver will be performed by the spacecraft during its initial descent on suborbital flights, allowing the vehicle to maintain a stable configuration during descent with little need for active guidance. During this test flight SpaceShipOne flew in the fully-feathered configuration for about 70 seconds.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, January 28
Europe Needs Space Spending To Rise To 33% Of U.S. Levels: ESA Boss
Aviation Week — 5:18 am ET (1018 GMT) EU's answer to Starlink should start up in 2029, commissioner says
Reuters — 5:15 am ET (1015 GMT) Defence Commissioner calls for European Space Command
EurActiv — 5:10 am ET (1010 GMT) Actress-Turned-CEO Raises $100 Million for Space-Antenna Firm
Bloomberg News — 5:10 am ET (1010 GMT) Northwood Space’s $100 Million Funding Round Shows Interest in Space Tech Is Surging
Inc. — 5:09 am ET (1009 GMT) |
