[Space] Scaled Composites LLC - SpaceShipOne - First Piloted Private Space Flight

[GioFX]

Da Space.com:

Monday's Private Spaceflight: Historical Milestone or Stunt Flying?

By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 06:00 am ET
19 June 2004

A privately built rocket plane is ready to streak through the sky over Mojave, California desert on June 21. Project officials herald it as the first non-governmental piloted flight to leave the Earth's atmosphere.

Built by Scaled Composites of Mojave, California, SpaceShipOne is set to become the world’s first commercial manned space vehicle. Investor and philanthropist Paul Allen and aviation technologist Burt Rutan, head of Scaled Composites, have teamed to create the program.

If all goes according to plan, the hybrid motor-propelled rocket plane will carry its pilot some 62 miles (100 kilometers) into suborbital space above the Mojave Civilian Aerospace Test Center, a commercial airport in the California desert. Gliding to a landing strip stop, "it will signal that the space frontier is finally open to private enterprise," explains a Scaled Composites release about the flight.

Propelling an individual to such heights is no slam dunk. It’s a risk-taking proposition. In fact, one test mission of the rocket plane last year ended in a landing mishap. Nobody was hurt and the vehicle was quickly patched up to soar another day.

But as SpaceShipOne arcs its way skyward, just how wispy or long-lived of a trail will the project leave in aerospace history books? Will it be remembered as a defining moment in human spaceflight or a stunt?

Economical, reliable, safe, and routine

The suborbital rocket plane is a leading contender among a worldwide cadre of teams vying for the Ansari X Prize, patterned after the Orteig Prize that spurred American aviator Charles Lindbergh to make his historic trans-Atlantic flight in 1927.

For a group to claim the Ansari $10 million cash award, it must fly a privately financed and built craft able to propel three people up to 62.5 miles (100 kilometers) altitude, return safely to Earth, and then repeat that trip within a two week period.


"SpaceShipOne represents the expansion of the human spaceflight private sector into an area in which only government programs had previously been active," said Roger Launius, chairman of the Division of Space History at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

Launius said a key for Rutan and his team is achieving suborbital travel that is relatively economical, reliable, safe, and routine. "Unfortunately, that won't be demonstrated solely by the two X Prize flights," he said.

Point-to-point travel

But if SpaceShipOne attains economic viability, safety, and other operational goals, Launius thinks it could hasten the day of another type of public transportation: hypersonic point-to-point service on the globe.

There is great potential in a hybrid air and spaceplane that would enable ordinary people to travel between New York City and Tokyo in about one hour, Launius told SPACE.com.

"I believe the spaceplane concept has enormous promise and will find reality within the first half of the 21st Century," he said. "Most important, spaceplanes promise passengers an opportunity to travel around the globe with greater speed and ease than anything available today. In the process, these passengers will become the first space tourists. It may well be that Rutan's work may well materially advance this possibility."

While taking nothing away from Rutan and his team’s grappling with suborbital hypersonic flight, Launius underscored the fact "there is a world of difference, literally, between suborbital and orbital operations."

Government money

The role of both government and private sector in advancing aerospace technology is flagged by aviation and space historian, Thomas Crouch, Senior Curator for the National Air and Space Museum.

"The Orteig Prize inspired Lindbergh, but the single most important element of his aircraft -- the engine -- had been developed with government money," Crouch noted. "Enthusiasm is fine, but almost never enough to achieve a difficult technological goal. If it had not been for the rise of the ballistic missile and the geopolitical importance of the space race, flying to the Moon would still be only a dream," he said.

Crouch admires the effort of Rutan and his team, wishing them all the best.

"I doubt, however, that his success will mark the advent of a Golden Age of space tourism and commerce," he said.

Orbital flight: big market

The portent of private rocket ships hauling ticketed passengers to the edge of space, and eventually into Earth orbit, is another belief shored up by the succession of SpaceShipOne flights to date. But how real is that scenario?

While no government funding is normally thought of as a "good thing" by private rocketeers, it has been disastrous for public space travel, said Ivan Bekey of Bekey Designs, Inc., Annandale, Virginia.

A former NASA advanced planner and technologist, Bekey said that with government encouragement, if not material support, Rutan’s step into space could have taken place 20 years ago. "By now we could have a vibrant public space travel commercial business with many economically viable companies. After all, there is little if no new technology in the Rutan vehicle," Bekey said.

"While all the hoopla goes on, suborbital flights will never amount to a big business," Bekey added, "because the costs will be very high for the few minutes’ experience." Furthermore, the difficulties and costs are enormously larger for orbital flight, he said.

"The market surveys that have been done show that only with orbital flight, and destination places such as orbital luxury hotels, will the market be big," Bekey emphasized.

"NASA is at fault," Bekey said. Had NASA done as good a job as Rutan has, public space travel could have taken two decades ago, "and the U.S. today would be the world leader in a new space industry with a huge market," he said.

Stunt flying

SpaceShipOne’s rocket powered flight to the edge of space mimics in certain ways the suborbital trial runs of the U.S. Mercury space capsule project of the early 1960s.

For example, NASA astronaut Alan Shepard was shoe-horned into his Freedom 7 Mercury spacecraft on May 5, 1961 and hurled to an altitude of 116 statute miles by a Redstone rocket. That quick, up-and-down flight lasted all of 15 minutes, with Shepard strapped inside his capsule splashing into the Atlantic, but helped clear the way for America’s entry into orbital spaceflight the following year.

SpaceShipOne’s high-altitude run is more like Lindbergh’s "stunt" flight than Shepard’s step in a planned program of space exploration, said Jerry Grey, Director for Aerospace Policy at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

"SpaceShip One uses appropriate hardware for a stunt flight -- simple, rugged, and adequately tested, and almost certainly qualified for the requisite second flight -- but it will probably not evolve into economical transportation for multiple flights carrying several passengers," Grey said.

Psychological and technical demonstration

Grey pointed out that the suborbital trajectory, although it does require re-entry capability, does not impose the more severe conditions of re-entry from orbit, nor does it demonstrate on-orbit control and operability.

"Hence I can't see it as the real precursor to space tourism, whereas Shepard's was clearly the precursor to Apollo," he said.

Similarly, Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, Grey said, "was a fine piece of invention and makeshift engineering, but it had little or no impact on the development of the DC-3 or even the Ford Tri-Motor, which ushered in true commercial passenger aviation."

These views aside, however, Grey saluted the SpaceShipOne project. "As a psychological and technical demonstration of what can be done in human space flight by the private sector, it will be invaluable to open the future path to true space tourism. And in itself it is a remarkable demonstration of private-sector astronautical development, as were Rutan's previous demonstrations in aeronautics."

Arthur Clarke, noted science fiction author and prognosticator of the future, had this tongue-in-cheek view of SpaceShipOne’s role in history: "I told Orville, and I told Wilbur -- it'll never get off the ground!"


On the fly! White Knight totes SpaceShipOne into sky above Mojave sands in early shakeout test. CREDIT: Scaled Composites


Business end of SpaceShipOne includes hybrid rocket motor, along with a novel tail section. CREDIT: Scaled Composites


Pilot Mike Melvill controls SpaceShipOne during sixth glide to a desert landing strip. CREDIT: Scaled Composites


Mojave Airport is headed for spaceport status. Image Courtesy: Mojave Airport


Just after landing SpaceShipOne on May 13 flight. Pilot Mike Melvill describes the experience while Scaled Composites chief Burt Rutan and crew chief Steve Losey listen. Note color stripes on leading edge of wing to measure aerodynamic heating on the craft's thermal protection system. Scaled Composites

[GioFX]

Big Secret: Who Will Fly SpaceShipOne?

By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 05:15 pm ET
18 June 2004

Who is piloting the first non-governmental rocket ship in an attempt next week to fly to the edge of space?

According to sources close to the project, the decision by those in the know at Scaled Composites - operators of the privately-built SpaceShipOne - remains a tight-lipped, vacuum packed secret.

The chosen pilot - picked from among a small cadre of previously announced Scaled Composites astronauts - is to be revealed at a press conference to be held this Sunday, the day before the slated June 21st flight of the rocket plane.

The flight-worthy four are: Brian Binnie, Mike Melvill, Doug Shane, and Pete Siebold.

Of that group, Mike Melvill has chalked up the most time behind the controls of SpaceShipOne, counting captive flights, freefall glides and the last powered flight of the craft. He has worked for Burt Rutan for over 26 years and has some 24 years of experience as an experimental test pilot.

However, out of the last three rocket-powered flights, Pete Siebold, Brian Binnie, as well as Melvill have each taken their turns at punching the rocket motor start button.


Left to right: Doug Shane, Mike Melvill, Pete Siebold, and Brian Binnie. CREDIT: Scaled Composites, LLC. Click to enlarge.

[GioFX]

Viewer's Guide to Monday's First Piloted Private Space Flight

By Robert Roy Britt
Senior Science Writer
posted: 05:45 am ET
18 June 2004

The public is invited to watch history made Monday when a company called Scaled Composites attempts to launch the first piloted commercial vehicle into space.

Event planners expect a cosmic Woodstock. Motels in the area are mostly booked and plans are in place for an all-night party. The flight of SpaceShipOne from an airport-turned-spaceport in California's Mojave Desert is scheduled to begin shortly after 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 local time).

MSNBC.com plans to offer a live webcast. Event officials said CNN will broadcast the launch on television, but CNN programming officials did not reply to a request to confirm that.

Radio station KLOA 104.9 plans a live audio webcast of the flight that will begin with traffic and weather reports at 8 a.m. ET (5 a.m. local time). Radio-only broadcasts are planned by local stations KGET 970 and KGOV.

SPACE.com will have reporters at the scene providing updates over the weekend and during the flight.

Flight plan

Scaled Composite officials expect a smooth flight, but anyone who follows the space industry knows that every flight has inherent risks.

In fact SpaceShipOne had a landing mishap during a test flight in September. There were no injuries and the craft was not significantly damaged when it slid off the runway.

Weather permitting, the craft will be carried aloft aboard the White Knight, a somewhat conventional airplane built specially for this purpose. An hour after taking off from the Mojave Airport, at about 50,000 feet, the White Knight will release SpaceShipOne, whose pilot will fire a rocket, powered by rubber and laughing gas, for about 80 seconds.

SpaceShipOne should soar to 62 miles (100 kilometers), crossing the threshold of space on a suborbital trajectory. The pilot, who has not yet been named, would officially become an astronaut.

According to plan, the craft will spend about three minutes in weightlessness, then glide back to Earth. It will land about 1 hour and 25 minutes after the initial takeoff in the same location.

The launch is planned for early morning because winds tend to pick up later in the day. Weather could scrub the launch, possibly pushing it back a day or more.

Viewing tips

A public viewing area will include loudspeakers to announce aspect of the flight that can't be seen from the ground. Much of event will be visible to the naked eye, but binoculars are recommended.

Event planners say traffic congestion could be heavy in the predawn hours before launch. There are a handful of motels in the town of Mojave, which is about 75 miles north of Los Angeles. Camping will be permitted at the Mojave Airport for Saturday and Sunday nights. The airport is closed to incoming air traffic.

SpaceShipOne was built by Burt Rutan, considered an engineering master in the industry.

"Without the entrepreneur approach, space access would continue to be out of reach for ordinary citizens," Rutan said. "The SpaceShipOne flights will change all that and encourage others to usher in a new, low-cost era in space travel."

With the support of wealthy investor Paul Allen, Rutan's company, Scaled Composites, is seeking also to win the $10 million Ansari X Prize. The winner must use a privately built vehicle to transport three people 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth twice within two weeks.

Monday's planned flight is one in a series of tests to prepare Scaled Composites for a run at the prize. A May 13 test flight took SpaceShipOne to 40 miles (64.4 kilometers).

More than 20 teams have registered to compete for the purse, and some besides Rutan's group are running test flights. Analysts say the money might be claimed by the end of this summer. The cash offer expires Jan. 1, 2005.

Filling up

A list of services in the Mojave area, along with other details of the event, are available at Scaled Composite's web site. Expect a difficult search for a place to stay, however.

Calls Thursday morning to 11 motels in the town of Mojave found only one, the Friendship Inn, had a room available Sunday night. Some motels were also booked solid in Rosamond, 15 miles away and in Tehachapi, 20 miles from Mojave. Others said they expect to have rooms but are not taking reservations.

A few rooms were available 30 miles away in Lancaster, but the reservation attendant at one motel there said dozens of room requests had been made in recent days because the town of Mojave was filling up.

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Paul Allen: Private Spaceflight's Financier

By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 10:42 am ET
20 June 2004

Private spaceships need private money. It’s no different for the design, building and testing of SpaceShipOne, now undergoing final checks for a public shakeout Monday over the Mojave Desert in California.

While SpaceShipOne uses a hybrid rocket motor gassed up with nitrous oxide and rubber, it also takes lots of hard cash to fuel the project.

SpaceShipOne is a product of Scaled Composites, led by aeronautical innovator, Burt Rutan. The aerospace research company is located at Mojave Airport.

While the craft and the existence of a commercial, piloted space program were revealed by Rutan in April of last year, the person who was backing the venture with cash was a deep secret.

The man turned out to be investor and philanthropist, Paul G. Allen. He has quietly footed the bill on the work, joining forces with Rutan back in March of 2001. It was only in December of last year – when SpaceShipOne first cracked the sound barrier – that the long-rumored sponsor broke the silence barrier.

But how much money Allen has shelled out on SpaceShipOne remains hush-hush.

Spirit of innovation

Allen is not a new arrival when it comes to innovation, technology, space exploration – and spending his cash.

Allen co-founded Microsoft Corporation with Bill Gates in 1975 and served as the company's executive vice president of research and new product development, the company's senior technology post, until 1983.

Today, Allen owns and invests in a suite of companies, with a portfolio focus on digital communications, new media, biotechnology, and entertainment. His primary companies include Vulcan Inc. of Seattle, Washington.

One of the top 15 philanthropists in America, Allen explains that the private rocket plane initiative captures the spirit of creativity and exploration seen in aviation.

"SpaceShipOne is a tangible example of continuing humankind’s efforts to travel into space, and effectively demonstrating that private, non-government resources can make a big difference in this field of discovery and invention," Allen explained the day he was spotlighted as backer of the venture.

SETI supporter

Allen’s interest in space goes well beyond the bounds of the suborbital. One could say his passion for out-of-this-world projects can be measured in astronomical units too.

Last March, the SETI Institute announced that Allen had committed $13.5 million to support the construction of the first and second phases of a unique, multiple use radio telescope array. The SETI Institute is a leading astrobiology institution with the mission of exploring the origin, nature and prevalence of life in the universe.

The hardware project is branded as the Allen Telescope Array (ATA).

When construction is completed late in the decade, the ATA will eventually consist of a cluster of 350 20-foot (6.1-meter) dishes. A slice of the full-up ATA is scheduled to begin conducting scientific investigations by the end of this year - making use of 32 dishes.

As part of its duties, the ATA will search for possible signals from technologically advanced civilizations elsewhere in the galaxy. The ATA is a partnership between the SETI Institute and the Radio Astronomy Laboratory (RAL) of the University of California, Berkeley.

Construction of the ATA is underway at the Hat Creek Observatory, northeast of San Francisco on a site operated by the RAL and in an area that is "radio quiet" – meaning there is a reduced level of interfering signals from human-produced sources.

Changing the landscape

The SETI announcement in March follows the successful completion of a three-year research and development phase which was originally funded by an $11.5 million gift from the Allen Foundation.

"I am very excited to be supporting one of the world's most visionary efforts to seek basic answers to some of the fundamental question about our universe and what other civilizations may exist elsewhere," Allen explained in a press statement.

Allen said he was a big proponent of leveraging revolutionary technology and design and applying it to important problems in science. The developments taking place with the ATA will not only enable "a lot of bang for our research and development buck," but it will also change the landscape of how telescopes will be built in the future, he stated.

"An instrument of this magnitude, which will result in the expansion of our understanding of how the universe was formed, and how it has evolved, and our place therein, is the reason I am the primary supporter of its development, design and construction," Allen said.

Seeing through Purple Haze

While backing space ships and listening for alien intelligence, he’s involved in a personal array of other undertakings.

For one, Allen’s early admiration of science fiction has manifested itself in The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame. It opens in Seattle on June 18.

Allen’s view is that sci-fi inspires critical thinking about society, history, culture and politics. The new collection has been created "to inspire new generations to reach beyond the present, imagine the future and explore the infinite possibilities of the universe," according to a museum press statement.

Then there’s the Experience Music Project (EMP), a 140,000-square-foot interactive music museum located at the Seattle Center. Also founded by Allen, this activity was spurred by his early fervor for legendary rock musician, Jimi Hendrix. The result: Amassing the world's largest collection of Hendrix memorabilia.

The Hendrix album of 1967, Are You Experienced?, contains the song "Purple Haze" that proclaims: "'Scuse me while I kiss the sky".

Jimi Hendrix envisioned a place that he called Sky Church, Allen notes, where all people, regardless of age, background or interests, could come together to celebrate music. EMP's Sky Church brings this idea to life.

EMP's collection includes more than 80,000 artifacts that helped shape music history, including musical instruments used by artists such as Bob Dylan, Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters and Kurt Cobain.

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Complete coverage: http://www.space.com/missionlaunches...n_archive.html

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Pilot Announced on Eve of Private Space Mission

By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 09:00 pm ET
20 June 2004

MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA – All is in readiness here for the first non-governmental flight to leave the Earth's atmosphere.

If weather and technology cooperate, the White Knight carrier craft is to tote the privately-built SpaceShipOne high above desert and mountain surroundings Monday morning, then cut free the craft for a rocket-powered assault on the sky.

Thousands of spectators and hundreds of journalists are flooding into this small desert community, prepared to witness firsthand the record-setting event.

Making it affordable to fly

"Showtime," explained Burt Rutan, chief of Scaled Composites, and aviation legend at a press briefing today.

Asked about the meaning behind the SpaceShipOne project, Rutan is quick to answer.


"The significance is the realization that, hey, this is for us to do now. This is not only for government to do. So I believe our real significance of this program is that realization…and I believe that realization will attract investment. And that realization will attract a whole bunch of activity. And very soon, it’ll be affordable for you to fly," Rutan told reporters.

Mike Melvill at the controls

Rutan announced at the press briefing that 62-year-old Mike Melvill has been selected to make Monday’s record-setting run to the edge of space. Melvill is a test pilot and vice president/general manager at Scaled Composites, LLC.

Melvill was at the controls of SpaceShipOne’s last flight in May. He has a number of aviation records to his name.

"I am very, very flattered to have been chosen for this, Melvill explained, picked from a small cadre of Scaled Composite astronaut candidates. "I just got the luck of the short straw, or the long straw…whatever it is."

"I’m delighted to do it. I enjoyed the last flight. I’m hoping this will be an exact repetition, just a little higher, a little faster. I’m looking forward to it very, very much. And I’m ready to go…I am ready to go! And we are going to win the X Prize. Put your money on it," Melvill said.

New page in aviation history books

Paul Allen, financial backer of the project was also at the media-packed briefing held at the Mojave Airport, takeoff site for the White Knight/SpaceShipOne vehicles. He saluted the creativity and dedication of the Scaled Composites team.

"Tomorrow we will attempt to add a new page to the aviation history books. If our attempt is successful, SpaceShipOne will be the first privately-funded spaceship to reach suborbital space. SpaceShipOne’s pilot will become the first civilian pilot to ever cross the boundary of space in a completely privately funded vehicle," Allen said.

Allen said that he has spent "in excess of $20 million on the project.

"I guess there is a theme with a number of my projects. I try to do things that should be done," Allen told SPACE.com. "I’m looking to do things that are crying out to be done, but haven’t been done," he said.

Fun while doing research

Paul Allen’s money has given Rutan free reign to design and build the Scaled Composites suborbital dream machine.

"This has allowed us to develop a complete manned space program from scratch for the price of one of those government paper studies," Rutan noted. "I’m so proud of that it brings tears to my eyes, it really does," he added choking back his emotions.

"It’s a unique opportunity to have fun. Having fun while doing pure research is heaven for me," Rutan said.

There were a number of hints from Rutan regarding still-secretive plans for moving beyond suborbital rocketry. Asked if SpaceShipOne is scalable, Rutan tossed out one word: "Yes."

Rutan said that flying SpaceShipOne on its suborbital flight is, indeed, barnstorming…just like the early airplanes.

"However, we’re heading to orbit sooner than you think. And we know it’s crucial to dramatically reduce the cost. We do not plan to stay in low Earth orbit for decades, but to enable high adventure and exploration as soon as the new technologies allow."

"So hold on. The next 25 years will be a wild ride, that’s my prediction," Rutan said.

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MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2004
1319 GMT (9:19 a.m. EDT)

Mission officials report that pre-launch activities are on schedule this morning. The weather is favorable with clear skies and winds that appear to be easing.

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MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2004
1327 GMT (9:27 a.m. EDT)

The White Knight aircraft has started its engines. All systems are "go" for launch. Takeoff is now expected within the next half-hour.

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MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2004
1337 GMT (9:37 a.m. EDT)

White Knight and SpaceShipOne duo have emerged from the hangar, rolling past spectators to reach the runway in preparation for takeoff from the Mojave Airport a short time from now.

Pilot Mike Melvill has one of SpaceShipOne's portholes open and is waving to the cheering crowds.


MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2004
1341 GMT (9:41 a.m. EDT)

A small, red chase plane has just taken off.

[gor]

l'hanno lanciato?come sta andando?

[GioFX]

1345 GMT (9:45 a.m. EDT)

A larger chase plane is now airborne.

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MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2004
1347 GMT (9:47 a.m. EDT)

TAKEOFF! The journey of SpaceShipOne is underway as the White Knight carrier aircraft departs the runway at Mojave Airport, California. SpaceShipOne is strapped to the underside of White Knight to be ferried about 46,000 feet above the desert for launch roughly an hour from now.

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MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2004
1400 GMT (10:00 a.m. EDT)

White Knight is climbing to the launch altitude by making wide circles over Mojave.

This twin-engine turbojet craft made its first flight in August 2001.

In addition to being the mothership to launch SpaceShipOne today, the White Knight's flying characteristics -- thrust-to-weight ratio and speed brakes -- allow it to be used as a flight simulator for SpaceShipOne pilot training.

[GioFX]

Live coverage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsa/n5ctrl/live/now1.ram

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1408 GMT (10:08 a.m. EDT)

The White Knight/SpaceShipOne duo is now about 25,000 feet over California, heading for the launch spot nearly 50,000 feet up.


1412 GMT (10:12 a.m. EDT)
Officials report everything is going smoothly this morning. "So far, so good," Dick Rutan says.

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1417 GMT (10:17 a.m. EDT)

It is now 30 minutes into the hour-long flight of the carrier aircraft to reach launch altitude for SpaceShipOne.

Powerful Air Force radars are being used to track today's launch and provide an independent report on the actual altitude reached during SpaceShipOne's attempt to reach space.

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1426 GMT (10:26 a.m. EDT)

The craft are directly over the viewing site now, leaving a long, white trail across the sky. They are on the final easterly leg of the climb to altitude. They will be turning to a westerly heading for the launch.

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1436 GMT (10:36 a.m. EDT)

Altitude is now 33,000 feet and all systems remain "go" for launch.

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1442 GMT (10:42 a.m. EDT)

Controllers say launch is about 8 minutes away.

[thotgor]

sembra una astronave della fantascienza anni '50