SpaceShipOne completes first glide test
Posted: Sun, Aug 10, 2003, 4:21 AM ET (0821 GMT)
SpaceShipOne (SS1), the suborbital RLV being developed by Scaled Composites, completed its first unpowered free flight on Thursday. The vehicle was carried aloft attached underneath the White Knight aircraft and was released at an altitude of 14,300 meters and a speed of 195 kmph. According to a report on Scaled's web site, SS1 glided for 19 minutes, testing the vehicle's performance over 60% of the planned subsonic flight envelope, before making a runway landing at Mojave Airport in California. The vehicle's performance compared well to simulator tests. SS1 and White Knight were unveiled to the public in April, and the two have conducted a number of captive carry flights, where SS1 remained attached to White Knight throughout the flight, since May. SS1 is considered one of the leading contenders to win the X Prize.
SpaceShipOne (SS1), the suborbital RLV being developed by Scaled Composites, completed its first unpowered free flight on Thursday. The vehicle was carried aloft attached underneath the White Knight aircraft and was released at an altitude of 14,300 meters and a speed of 195 kmph. According to a report on Scaled's web site, SS1 glided for 19 minutes, testing the vehicle's performance over 60% of the planned subsonic flight envelope, before making a runway landing at Mojave Airport in California. The vehicle's performance compared well to simulator tests. SS1 and White Knight were unveiled to the public in April, and the two have conducted a number of captive carry flights, where SS1 remained attached to White Knight throughout the flight, since May. SS1 is considered one of the leading contenders to win the X Prize.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
US and UK militaries conduct coordinated satellite maneuvers
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:30 AM ET (1230 GMT) Blue Origin retires a New Shepard capsule after payload flight
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:25 AM ET (1225 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, October 13
Government criticized for rushed approval of Starlink Korea agreement
JoongAng Daily — 7:04 am ET (1104 GMT) SpaceX plans Starship test flight in Texas as early as Monday
UPI — 7:02 am ET (1102 GMT) Senior barrister: Space industry a trillion-dollar market for HKSAR
China Daily — 7:00 am ET (1100 GMT) Race for Space Law: Inside the Sino-American Cosmic Rivalry
ChinaTalk — 6:57 am ET (1057 GMT) Key ExoMars Rover part ships from Aberystwyth
Eurekalert — 6:45 am ET (1045 GMT) |
