Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > sci.physics > #537468 > unrolled thread

Meet “Cosmic Girl,” the plane that would launch rockets into space

Back to article view | Back to sci.physics

Contents

  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

#537468 — Meet “Cosmic Girl,” the plane that would launch rockets into space

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.
>


-- 

sci.physics is an unmoderated newsgroup dedicated
to the discussion of physics, news from the physics
community, and physics-related social issues.

[toc] | [next] | [standalone]

#537486

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.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#537522

On 12/4/15 9:40 PM, Sylvia Else wrote:
> 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.


   The key seem to be limiting payloads to 450kg -- pretty small. But
   then so is Apple's iPhone.  I'm optimistic that we can do a lot of
   science with the 450kg satellites, who's mass is mostly sensors
   and communications, supplemented by 14nm and 10nm processors.








-- 

sci.physics is an unmoderated newsgroup dedicated
to the discussion of physics, news from the physics
community, and physics-related social issues.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#537578

On 6/12/2015 2:15 AM, Sam Wormley wrote:
> On 12/4/15 9:40 PM, Sylvia Else wrote:
>> 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.
>
>
>    The key seem to be limiting payloads to 450kg -- pretty small. But
>    then so is Apple's iPhone.  I'm optimistic that we can do a lot of
>    science with the 450kg satellites, who's mass is mostly sensors
>    and communications, supplemented by 14nm and 10nm processors.
>

Clearly, the smaller the payload, the cheaper the launch, other things 
being equal. The question is whether an air launch is cheaper than a 
ground launch. I'd take some convincing.

Sylvia.

[toc] | [prev] | [standalone]

Back to top | Article view | sci.physics

csiph-web