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Space Science Technology

Rutans' X-prize Entry Tested In Re-Entry Configuration 27

Posted by timothy from the one-among-many dept.
evenprime writes "Burt Rutan's X-Prize entry has completed another drop test. This is the second drop over-all, and the first with its wings locked into their re-entry position. The flight results are here."
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Rutans' X-prize Entry Tested In Re-Entry Configuration More

Rutans' X-prize Entry Tested In Re-Entry Configuration

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  • Pictures! (Score:5, Informative)

    by elvesRgay ( 685389 ) on Wednesday September 03, 2003 @06:26PM (#6863666)
    This article really needs a link to some cool pictures. So here they are. [scaled.com]

    Scoll down to the bottom to get to the newest pictures. Hope the server doesn't get hammered.

    • Re:Pictures! (Score:3, Informative)

      by bananahammock ( 595781 )
      Perhaps like others (and maybe this point has been raised previously), I was curious why this "spaceship" has umpteen windows. Searching the Scaled website, this is addressed under FAQs. For those interested:

      "The windows must be small to keep the weight of the vehicle down and they must be round to minimize the structural loads. This configuration is also the least expensive to manufacture. Each portal consists of two windows to provide redundancy for the integrity of the pressure vessel should one window

  • Drop-test? (Score:3, Funny)

    by El ( 94934 ) on Wednesday September 03, 2003 @06:26PM (#6863674)
    Now if I could just get a laptop that would survive a drop-test from 47,000 feet...
    • I'd be happy for 4.7 feet without having to buy a so-called "ruggedized" (what a lame "word") laptop that has half the CPU and twice the price tag of its competitors.

  • NASA (Score:2, Interesting)

    by iCat ( 690740 )
    If I worked for NASA, I might consider a change of employer.

    • Re:NASA (Score:2, Insightful)

      by turgid ( 580780 )
      I think we're still in the very early stages yet, so don't be too hasty. Many more people will lose their shirts before things really get going. Maybe in 5 years time things will be more promising. If I worked for NASA, especially doing something technical, I'd be proud and happy working for such a hi-tech employer and getting all that experience and knowledge.
  • It almost sounds like:

    "Lock your X-foils in attack position"...
  • I don't think Carmack is going to win the X-prize.

  • Steamrolling (Score:2, Insightful)

    by annisette ( 682090 )
    Very little has slowed down Mr. Rutan from anything he wants to accomplish. This is a great accomplishment as all others he has worked on.

  • the others are keeping too quiet (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Spudley ( 171066 ) on Wednesday September 03, 2003 @06:59PM (#6863932) Homepage Journal
    How come this seems to be the only project that's getting any attention?

    Is it because it's the only one that's doing anything? Or is it more like it's the only one that's making all their results public?

    (or quite possibly, in true slashdot tradition, it could be just because it's the one that looks the coolest? ;-))
    • Rutan's got a good reputation, and it seems like he's ahead of the other contestants. For the moment, anyway.
    • I wouldn't bet against:
      My mother
      A nun
      Paul MacCready
      Gene Krantz
      Steve Case until 2001
      Steve Jobs 1977-1983 & 2001-2003
      Any of the Rutans

      It just ain't smart.
    • How come this seems to be the only project that's getting any attention?

      Are you kidding? How about Carmack's Armadillo Aerospace [google.com]?

    • How come this seems to be the only project that's getting any attention?

      Is it because it's the only one that's doing anything? Or is it more like it's the only one that's making all their results public?

      (or quite possibly, in true slashdot tradition, it could be just because it's the one that looks the coolest? ;-))

      To address your last point first, I'd say that, on slashdot anyway, Carmack is getting a lot more coverage & support than Rutan. I think mostly because he's famous for videogames, th

      • many of these guys are simply trying to keep quiet.
        They are trying to be number one and since they are coming from a neuratic business world, they think they have to be quiet here. Burt and John thrive on info and know that you need ppl to participate to some degree. Once these companies are off the ground, they will need customers.
        Remember that all of these guys are trying hard to create a business. I am guessing that Rutan is thinking ahead and almost certainly will be going up to orbit on the scaled up
      • I think Rutan and Carmack are receiving approximately equal coverage.

        Carmack because of his fame within the community, Rutan because of his track record in aviation.

        Burt Rutan is aviation's equivalent of John Carmack. A genius who is a leader and driving force within his field.

        Someone else commented that he would not ever bet against either of the Rutans. (Burt is an amazing designer, Dick Rutan is an amazing test pilot.)

        XCor also gets coverage on /. occasionally. At least one of their employees is a
        • Seeing a picture of a rocket I had drawn as a child, my mom had asked me "are you going into space in that rocket." "Oh no, I am just the designer of the rocket, my younger brother is going to fly it."

          With that childhood memory, I always wonder about the Rutans and about sibling rivalry and all that.

  • The Trials of Space Exploration (Score:5, Funny)

    by Bob Vila's Hammer ( 614758 ) * on Wednesday September 03, 2003 @08:28PM (#6864698) Homepage Journal
    Its interesting how well this picture [scaled.com] depicts perfectly the dynamics of geekdom - the clear indictation is located 6 persons from the left.

    24 geeks, 2 super duper flying machines, one hot chick.

  • Can't Wait! (Score:2, Interesting)

    by at_kernel_99 ( 659988 )

    From the mission summary:

    Observers in the chase Starship were treated to a closeup bizarre view of the spaceship plunging downward in a rock-stable near vertical feathered descent. First public showings of these videos will be on 26 September at the annual SETP symposium in Los Angeles.
  • These early flights are all well and good, but:

    1) They are low altitude flights

    2) They are low airspeed flights

    This is the easy corner of the flight envelope. The spacecraft will eventually have to go Mach 2+ and handle re-entry conditions. That will be the real test. The reasons I don't have a high degree of confidence they'll pull it off are:

    1) Only CFD was used for design and analysis, no wind tunnel testing. This is a cardinal sin. Orbital Sciences has been burned twice for doing this, once
    • I wonder what the general concensus among other experienced aerospace folk is regarding success for this and other X prize contenders?

    • " 1) Only CFD was used for design and analysis, no wind tunnel testing. This is a cardinal sin. Orbital Sciences has been burned twice for doing this, once on the first flight of the Pegasus XL, and recently on the first flight of the X-43A."

      It's a known fact that Rutan is not in any way a proponent of windtunnel testing, and I'm not sure if ANY of his designs were windtunnel tested before first flight.

      Despite this, his track record is stellar. Burt Rutan is someone you don't want to bet against.

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