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Private space travel companies set to make big leaps in 2013

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  • Private space travel companies set to make big leaps in 2013

    This stuff fascinates me. We need more private company involvement to really push the human race into space. Hard to believe it's barely been 100 years since we flew for the first time. Imagine where we'll be in another 100? 200?

    Private companies building new spaceships to soar through orbital and suborbital space are looking forward to an action-packed year in 2013, with new flight tests, launches, wind tunnel tests and rocket technology trials all planned during the new year.

    Of the many spacecraft being developed only one has already flown in space, the Dragon capsule built by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) in Hawthorne, Calif.The unmanned cargo ship has flown in space three times so far, and carried supplies to the International Space Station twice in 2012 — first in May during a test and then again October.

    SpaceX’s next cargo flight to the station is set for May 2013. But a new astronaut-carrying version of Dragon is also in the works. The crewed capsule will be different from its robotic predecessor in several key areas, with SpaceX set to advancing technology for the new ship in 2013.

    “Dragon Version 2 won’t look like [today’s Dragon]. I think it looks pretty cool. Dragon one, we didn’t really know what we were doing so that’s why Dragon looks similar to things that have happened in the past,” SpaceX founder Elon Musk told an audience during a talk at the UK’s Royal Aeronautical Society in London on Nov. 21. Musk described Dragon version 2 as having “legs that pop out” and added that it uses parachutes and its eight SuperDraco thrusters for a “propulsive landing”.

    The SuperDraco thrusters, located around the base of the Dragon, also act as the pusher launch abort system to move the capsule (and crew) clear of its rocket during a launch emergency.

    While Musk was unavailable for to discuss SpaceX’s plans for 2013, company officials did provide SPACE.com details on its expected activities.

    In March the company will review its Dragon pad abort test that is planned for later in the year December; in May SpaceX will perform its human certification plan review for the capsule; in June the crewed Dragon on-orbit and entry design review is expected to occur; July would then see an in-flight abort test review; A safety review is slated for October; and before the December pad abort test, November will see a flight review of an upgraded version of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which launches Dragon capsules into orbit.

    SpaceX is developing the seven-person Dragon 2 capsule to compete for NASA’s International Space Station (ISS) crew transportation contract. NASA’s commercial crew program is helping industry develop competing space transportation systems to win this ISS contract. Ed Mango is the commercial crew program manager.

    “2013 will be a huge year for us. In the first couple of months we’ll kick off work for our certification contract and we’ll award that shortly,” Mango told SPACE.com.
    '
    Companies selected for the certification contract will get $10 million each and have 15 months to demonstrate, with data, that their rockets and spacecraft can be considered for the space station transport mission. “The [contract winners] are not just making spacecraft and launch vehicles they are also doing it to meet a NASA mission, our mission to the [ISS],” Mango said.

    In the second half of 2013, NASA will start the bidding process for its commercial crew contract that will lead to the certification of one transportation system to take astronauts to the space station. That contract will not be awarded until early 2014, and a few years later NASA astronauts could travel to the station on the successful launch system.

    In theory, while any U.S.company can bid for those two contracts, Mango suggested that the three companies that have won funded space act agreements under the commercial crew program will be the likely contenders. Those three companies are: SpaceX; Boeing; and Sierra Nevada Corporation.

    Boeing’s spacecraft is the Commercial Space Transportation 100 (CST-100) capsule and is designed to launch atop the Atlas 5 rockets built by the United Launch Alliance’s (ULA). The CST-100 capsule can carry up to seven astronauts and, like Dragon 2, it is expected to land on land. Its design includes airbags to cushion landing, as well as a pusher abort system.
    Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser space plane is based on NASA’s HL-20, a spacecraft the agency studied 25 years ago. It is also designed to launch on an Atlas 5 rocket.

    In 2012 a Dream Chase prototype was used for a captive carry flight test using a helicopter. In the first half of 2013 an unmanned Dream Chaser will fly low speed approaches and landing tests at NASA's DrydenFlightResearchCenterin California.

    “These flight tests are similar to the approach and landing tests that NASA conducted on the Space Shuttle prior to the first launch of the Shuttle. The [Dream Chaser] program is also continuing significant hardware testing throughout 2013 to continue to advance the design of our subsystems," John Roth, Sierra Nevada Space Systems vice president of business development told SPACE.com.

    Because the Atlas 5 is the launcher for CST-100 and Dream Chaser, the rocket’s provider ULA is heavily involved with the Boeing and Sierra Nevada work.

    “We’re contracted to support Boeing and Sierra Nevadato support their milestones, we’re directly supporting almost all of them,” George Sower, ULA’s Human launch Services vice president, said in an interview.

    In 2013, ULA will be continuing to develop the dual engine Centaur upper stage its Atlas 5 needs for launching these manned spacecraft. For satellite launches, the unmanned Atlas 5 has only used a single engine powered Centaur. In April and May, ULA will test ducting to provide propellant for the new Centaur’s two engines. ULA is also planning wind tunnel tests to understand the different aerodynamics of having Boeing’s capsule and Sierra’s winged Dream Chaser on top of the Atlas 5.

    While the orbital commercial human spaceflight providers are aiming for operational missions after 2015, the suborbital tourism companies are seeking revenue flights well before then. These suborbital spacecraft are designed to launch beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, but not to enter orbit around the planet. Instead, they will return to Earth to be readied to fly again.

    In 2013, XCOR Aerospace is building its Lynx I, which will not fly beyond the 62-mile (100 kilometers) border line between the atmosphere and space. This Lynx rocket plane is a prototype for the planned Lynx Mark 2, which will fly into suborbital space.

    “We’re looking at 2013 as the time for our test flight program and in early 2013 we’ll get started. For the Lynx Mark 1, our prototype craft, we’ll be doing test fights throughout the year from early 2013 and then go into commercial flights,” XCOR spokesman Bryan Campen told SPACE.com.
    After 2013, the Lynx Mark 2, which will fly higher than 62 miles, will be manufactured in Floridaat or near the KennedySpaceCenter, XCOR officials said. The company is also setting up its new headquarters and research center in Midland, Texas.

    After 22 gliding tests between October 2010 and August 2012, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo has been edging closer to having its hybrid solid rocket motor added and making its first rocket powered flight. In May 2012 Virgin Galactic was awarded an experimental launch permit by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees commercial human spaceflight. At the time Virgin Galactic was anticipating a rocket-powered SpaceShipTwo flight by the end of the year.

    By Sept. 20, the SpaceShipTwo rocket motor had been fired on the ground 17 times. On Oct. 19, Virgin Galactic released an image of the oxidizer tank being fitted to the first SpaceShipTwo, called the VSS Enterprise.

    The oxidizer flows through the hollow center of the solid fuel rocket and when ignited will burn with the fuel to generate thrust. The first rocket-powered SpaceShipTwo flight is now expected in 2013.

  • #2
    I've got a buddy that works for SpaceX in McGreggor. I want to punch him in the dick every time I see him. Totes jelly.

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    • #3
      I wish I still worked for ULA. I loved hearing about this stuff and being involved with that environment.
      Originally posted by Cmarsh93z
      Don't Fuck with DFWmustangs...the most powerfull gang I have ever been a member of.

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      • #4
        And they're moving far faster than government can. More versatility, no public unions to deal with and they set their own schedules withotu worrying about politics
        I wear a Fez. Fez-es are cool

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        • #5
          eric cant wait to get to Uranus.

          god bless.
          It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men -Frederick Douglass

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          • #6
            lmao.

            I would love to go the ISS and look back down on our blue marble in space.
            Originally posted by Silverback
            Look all you want, she can't find anyone else who treats her as bad as I do, and I keep her self esteem so low, she wouldn't think twice about going anywhere else.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by ELVIS View Post
              eric cant wait to get to Uranus.

              god bless.
              Geor can't wait to circle it.

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              • #8
                They didn't even mention some of the other stuff SpaceX is doing in 2013. They are supposed to have the first flight of the Falcon Heavy rocket. This one has TWICE the lifting power of the Space Shuttle at a much lower cost per flight. It will finally bring launch costs below $1000 per pound.

                The Space Shuttle could put 53,600 lbs in low earth orbit but the Falcon heavy should be able to lift 120,000 lbs. For comparison, the Saturn V could lift 260,000 lbs to LEO. NASAs new Space Launch System should be able to lift 280,000 lbs to LEO. However none of these vehicles will do it for the low cost of a Falcon Heavy.

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                • #9
                  Just goes to show how much private companies can do. The government is too weighed down with red tape & bullshit to function efficiently.
                  sigpic

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                  • #10
                    As frequently as they are testng their rockets daily out here you know they are ramping development up. Their burns are lasting 30-60 secs long each and at 13 miles away our windows vibrate every night from it.

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                    • #11
                      Just a couple weeks ago SpaceX's Grasshopper rocket completed a vertical takeoff and vertical landing after maintaining a 40m hover for 12 seconds.



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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by talisman View Post
                        In 2013, XCOR Aerospace is building its Lynx I, which will not fly beyond the 62-mile (100 kilometers) border line between the atmosphere and space. This Lynx rocket plane is a prototype for the planned Lynx Mark 2, which will fly into suborbital space.

                        “We’re looking at 2013 as the time for our test flight program and in early 2013 we’ll get started. For the Lynx Mark 1, our prototype craft, we’ll be doing test fights throughout the year from early 2013 and then go into commercial flights,” XCOR spokesman Bryan Campen told SPACE.com.
                        After 2013, the Lynx Mark 2, which will fly higher than 62 miles, will be manufactured in Floridaat or near the KennedySpaceCenter, XCOR officials said. The company is also setting up its new headquarters and research center in Midland, Texas.
                        I can't wait till this happens, it will be cool to have a spaceport 15 minutes from my house. It also makes me smile when companies give Cali the middle finger and move to Texas.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Strychnine View Post
                          Just a couple weeks ago SpaceX's Grasshopper rocket completed a vertical takeoff and vertical landing after maintaining a 40m hover for 12 seconds.
                          I saw that and couldn't believe how much progress they've made in less than a year. I think the flyback 1st stage is going to be really feasible, but they'll have to launch from Texas so the 1st stage can land in Florida. I'm guessing that any high orbit inclination launches will need to start in Florida and land at Wallops in Virginia. Of course this is speculation on my part but SpaceX has already said they would like a launch facility on the Texas coast.

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                          • #14

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Rick Modena View Post
                              lmao.

                              I would love to go the ISS and look back down on our blue marble in space.

                              I would go to space the 1st chance it was offered to me. It's just to cool, and again to look back at earth would be the most amazing sight ever

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