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Groups > sci.physics > #537486
| From | Sylvia Else <sylvia@not.at.this.address> |
|---|---|
| Newsgroups | sci.physics |
| Subject | Re: Meet “Cosmic Girl,” the plane that would launch rockets into space |
| Date | 2015-12-05 14:40 +1100 |
| Message-ID | <dcf4kvFqkbcU1@mid.individual.net> (permalink) |
| References | <XbCdncsEoNsNoP_LnZ2dnUU7-Y3OydjZ@giganews.com> |
On 5/12/2015 12:27 PM, Sam Wormley wrote: > Meet “Cosmic Girl,” the plane that would launch rockets into space >> http://arstechnica.com/science/2015/12/meet-cosmic-girl-the-plane-that-would-launch-rockets-into-space/ >> > > >> For the first time, Virgin Galactic has revealed the aircraft it >> intends to use to boost small satellites weighting up to 450kg into >> orbit, perhaps before the end of 2017. Branson, the charismatic >> founder of the company, said he hoped that by bringing down the cost >> of satellite launches he could enable global satellite Internet and >> bring connectivity to the more than 3 billion people without access >> to the Web. > >> Ars was on hand during the reveal, which showcased the aircraft now >> destined to carry the “LauncherOne” rocket to an altitude of 35,000 >> feet before releasing it at a 25-degree upward angle. The rocket's >> Newton 3 engine will then blast its payload into any number of >> possible orbits around the Earth. Virgin Galactic assessed a variety >> of aircraft before settling on a 14-year-old 747 from its own fleet >> nicknamed “Cosmic Girl.” That airplane continued to fly normal routes >> until October 23, most frequently carrying passengers from London’s >> Heathrow to JFK in New York City to San Francisco. >> >> LauncherOne is Virgin Galactic’s entry into the increasingly hot >> small-satellite market. Already, the company has signed a major >> contract with OneWeb to launch 39 communications satellites using the >> LauncherOne platform. OneWeb is seeking to deliver broadband >> satellite Internet. In October, Virgin Galactic also won a $4.7 >> million contract from NASA to launch more than a dozen cutting-edge >> experimental satellites for the space agency. George Whitesides, >> chief executive of Virgin Galactic, said Thursday the company will be >> able to deliver 200kg satellites to a Sun-synchronous orbit for less >> than $10 million, with larger satellites costing more. >> > > Dunno. Lifting a launcher to, 35,000 ft, and accelerating it to 1000km/h doesn't really seem to go far when it comes to putting something into orbit. As for for access to orbits, the launch point needs to be either equatorial (for geosynchronous orbit insertion), and there are already suitable launch sites, or pretty much anywhere for sun-synchronous or polar orbit. Given the costs of operating a 747, I'd have to wonder whether this really works out cheaper than launching a slightly bigger rocket from the ground. Sylvia.
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Meet “Cosmic Girl,” the plane that would launch rockets into space Sam Wormley <swormley1@gmail.com> - 2015-12-04 19:27 -0600
Re: Meet “Cosmic Girl,” the plane that would launch rockets into space Sylvia Else <sylvia@not.at.this.address> - 2015-12-05 14:40 +1100
Re: Meet “Cosmic Girl,” the plane that would launch rockets into space Sam Wormley <swormley1@gmail.com> - 2015-12-05 09:15 -0600
Re: Meet “Cosmic Girl,” the plane that would launch rockets into space Sylvia Else <sylvia@not.at.this.address> - 2015-12-06 09:40 +1100
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