SpaceShip Two to be Revealed Tonight

[Chupacabra]

Tonight at around 8:30-9pm ET (0130-0200GMT) will be the grand unveiling of Virgin Galactic's Spaceship Two in the Mojave Desert.

Virgin Galactic

This is spectacular news. I can't wait to see the newly christened "VSS Enterprise" attached to Eve later tonight!


Cheers everyone! Especially those whom have been working hard in New Mexico.

EDIT: Click here for a sneak peak at the pair inside their hangar.

 

[Jake]

Hmm... Unshielded windows. The astronauts would work out quite the tan if they take their helmets off and look out a sun-facing window. The suit/helmet will prolly be mandatory though.

 

[Urwumpe]

Hmm... Unshielded windows. The astronauts would work out quite the tan if they take their helmets off and look out a sun-facing window. The suit/helmet will prolly be mandatory though.

Unshielded is not unprotected. The Space Shuttle windows in the flight deck are also not shielded, they are only filtered.

 

[n72.75]

I'm going to need a lot of money soon. . .

 

[dgatsoulis]

How much does the ticket cost? (Round-trip of course! hehehehe)

 

[Urwumpe]

How much does the ticket cost? (Round-trip of course! hehehehe)

Up $250, down $199,750

 

[Hielor]

Up $250, down $199,750

I think that's possibly backwards, given that the "up" phase is where all of the fuel costs are incurred?

 

[Urwumpe]

I think that's possibly backwards, given that the "up" phase is where all of the fuel costs are incurred?

No, fuel costs are the smallest cost item, the "intact landing fee" is higher.

 

[Jake]

Unshielded is not unprotected. The Space Shuttle windows in the flight deck are also not shielded, they are only filtered.

The windows seemed transparent enough not to be filtered... but then again I'm not an expert in radiation filtering. While at it, can you point me to some reading material about filtering window technology? I would like to know more of the subject matter.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Some pictures of SpaceShipTwo!

www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2009/12/all-the-pictures-virgin-galact.html

 

[Urwumpe]

The windows seemed transparent enough not to be filtered... but then again I'm not an expert in radiation filtering. While at it, can you point me to some reading material about filtering window technology? I would like to know more of the subject matter.

The key component for the UV protection in the Space shuttle flight Deck windows is a thin layer of ink between the optical and the pressure pane of it (It has three panes, pressure, optical and thermal). It uses the same ink that is used for US bank notes.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/structure/windows.html

 

[Jake]

Interesting information. Thanks! How thick is a shuttle window, anyway? Any link to where I can read stuff like this?

 

[Brycesv1]

beautiful craft but to me it really doesnt look re-entry worthy. it could just be my ignorance though.

 

[CigDriver]

It is not reentry worthy from orbital speeds. It is a trip up and then back down, no orbit. The reentry speed is quite low.

 

[Urwumpe]

beautiful craft but to me it really doesnt look re-entry worthy. it could just be my ignorance though.

Why not? It has all that it needs. :lol:

 

[Brycesv1]

thank you CigDriver. for some reason i had orbital speeds in my head, i must be tired.

 

[Arrowstar]

Wow, that is one shiny vehicle. Despite the fact that it's not orbit-capable, I'm still looking forward to seeing it fly. I'm curious to know just how well that feathering system works and if it lives up to the hype that video gives it. And perhaps one day, VG will be flying orbital craft. We'll see!

 

[Brycesv1]

if i could sit in orbit for at least 12 hours i'd fork over my life savings

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Shiny! A very attractive looking craft. Burt is a freaking genious! I'm still in awe of his Starship, it's gotta be one of the prettiest twin engine planes out there.

 

[Ark]

Cool. It's not a true orbital vehicle, but a first step is a first step.