Commercial Spaceflight Companies Could this be your ticket to
space? 200,000.00 Amt: Courtesy of Spaceport America Image credit
Virgin Galactic
Slide 2
Commercial Spaceflight Companies Spaceport America Spaceport
America (located near Las Cruces, New Mexico) will be the worlds
first commercial spaceport designed for manned and unmanned
spaceflight. Commercial spaceflight companies tentatively planning
to operate out of Spaceport America, are Virgin Galactic and Up
Aerospace. Courtesy of Spaceport America Your Spaceport Courtesy of
Spaceport America
Slide 3
Commercial Spaceflight Companies White Knight Two Aircraft The
first WhiteKnightTwo, christened VMS Eve after Richard Branson's
mother, was revealed to the public for the first time in July 2008.
It is the largest all carbon composite aircraft ever built. It has
the capability to carry heavy payloads (around 35,0000lbs) to high
altitude (around 50,000ft) and the ability to perform zero g
maneuvers and has a range of 2000 nautical miles. Image credit
Virgin Galactic White Knight Two with Spaceship two in launch
configuration Image credit Virgin Galactic
Slide 4
Commercial Spaceflight Companies White Knight Two Aircraft
Image credit Virgin Galactic
Slide 5
Commercial Spaceflight Companies Image credit Virgin Galactic
SpaceShip Two Space Ship Two uses all the same basic technology,
carbon composite construction and design as SpaceShipOne. However
it is around twice as large as that vehicle and will carry six
passengers and two pilots
Slide 6
Commercial Spaceflight Companies Image credit Virgin Galactic
Technical Specifications of Spaceship Two Spaceship Two is an air
launched glider (launched from White Knight Two) with a rocket
motor and a couple of extra systems for spaceflight. Just like any
aircraft, it requires aerodynamic forces to provide stability and
control while in the atmosphere. In space, pilots use small
thrusters known as the reaction control system (RCS) that allow
pilots to maneuver the vehicle in space to provide a better view
for passenger astronauts.
Slide 7
Commercial Spaceflight Companies The Virgin Galactic Space Ship
Enterprise made its first flight on March 22, 2010 with space ship
two firmly bolted under the wing of the four-engine Virgin
Mothership Eve. Virgin Galactic plans to launch commercial flights
beginning in late 2011 or early 2012. Image credit Virgin
Galactic
Slide 8
Commercial Spaceflight Companies Space X SpaceX headquarters is
located in Hawthorne, California Their vehicle manufacturing and
design are also located at the Hawthorne, California facility.
Engine and large-scale structural testing occurs at a test site in
McGregor, Texas. SpaceX also operates launch facilities at the
Kwajalein Atoll (Reagan Test Site) in the Marshall Islands, at Cape
Canaveral, Florida, and at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
SpaceX also maintains offices in Washington, D.C. Image credit
SpaceX
Slide 9
Commercial Spaceflight Companies Space X Length:54.9 m (180 ft)
Width:3.6 m (12 ft) Mass (LEO, 5.2m fairing): 333,400 kg (735,000
lb) Mass (GTO, 5.2m fairing): 332,800 kg (733,800 lb) Thrust
(vacuum): 4.94 MN (1,110,000 lbf) The Falcon 9 launch vehicle Image
credit SpaceX
Slide 10
Commercial Spaceflight Companies The Dragon Spacecraft Dragon
is a free-flying, reusable spacecraft being developed by SpaceX
under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS)
program. SpaceX has designed the Dragon spacecraft for transfer of
cargo and crew to low earth orbit as well as pressurized or
unpressurized cargo. December 2008, NASA announced the selection of
SpaceXs Falcon 9 launch vehicle and Dragon spacecraft to resupply
the International Space Station (ISS) when the Space Shuttle
retires. Space X Image credit SpaceX
Slide 11
Commercial Spaceflight Companies Rocketplane Global Rocketplane
Global, Inc. (RGI) was founded in 2001 as a commercial space flight
company. Rocketplane opened its first office in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma Image credit Rocketplane Global
Slide 12
Commercial Spaceflight Companies Image credit Rocketplane
Global Rocketplane XP (mfg. by Rocketplane Global)
Slide 13
Commercial Spaceflight Companies General Characteristics
Length: 44 feet Diameter: 5.6 feet GTOW: 20,000 lbs Crew
Environment: Pressurized cabin to ~10 psi Payload Capacity: 5
passengers No. of Jet Engines: 2 No. of Rocket Engines: 1 Rocket
Propellant: LOX / Kerosene Nominal Rocket Thrust: 36,000 lbs The
Rocketplane XP Vehicle is a six-seat fighter-sized vehicle fitted
with a high performance wing and a T-tail which provide good flight
characteristics both subsonically and supersonically. The cabin
environment is designed to maintain a comfortable temperature and
pressure for the occupants while providing an excellent view of the
Earth from space. It is constructed with many of the same systems
as a normal jet aircraft, but also includes features required for
its flight into space including its rocket engine, reaction control
system (RCS), and internal air supply. The vehicle is powered by
both turbojet engines and a rocket engine, enabling it to
accelerate to speeds just over 3,500 feet per second (2,386 miles
per hour) and reach altitudes in excess of 330,000 feet (100
kilometers) providing the sensation of weightlessness for three to
four minutes! The XP will operate from ordinary airfields within
the well-established rules and practices for experimental aircraft.
General Characteristics Length: 44 feet Diameter: 5.6 feet GTOW:
20,000 lbs Crew Environment: Pressurized cabin to ~10 psi Payload
Capacity: 5 passengers No. Jet Engines: 2 No. of Rocket Engines: 1
Rocket Propellant: LOX / Kerosene Nominal Rocket Thrust: 36,000 lbs
Rocketplane XP Image credit Rockeplane Global
Slide 14
Commercial Spaceflight Companies Typical flight path for the
Rocketplane XP Image credit Rockeplane Gobal
Slide 15
Commercial Spaceflight Companies The Dreamchaser overall space
transportation system based on the NASA HL-20 lifting body
spaceplane. Dream Chaser TM, is designed to carry passengers and
cargo on sub-orbital and orbital flights, which could including
flights to and from the International Space Station. The Dream
Chaser TM will provide a safe and affordable solution for
commercial space operations, will launch vertically and land
horizontally on conventional runways. Image credit SpaceX
Slide 16
Commercial Spaceflight Companies Up Aerospace Corporate UP
Aerospace Corporation is a space launch and test flight services
provider which offers quick and economical access to space. Using
privately funded sources UP Aerospace Corporate created a new low
cost sounding rocket named SpaceLoft XL. On April 28, 2007
SpaceLoft XL made its historic first space flight from New Mexicos
Spaceport America Launch Pad One. Up Aerospace Corporate provides
services for both government, Commercial and educational projects
in schools and universities. UP Aerospace Corporate, engineering
and manufacturing offices are in Denver, Colorado with business
offices in Connecticut. Launch flight facilities are at New Mexicos
Spaceport America. Image credit Up Aerospace SpaceLoft XL