Sign-up to receive weekly Space email updates with news, commentary, photos, videos and more!
Comprehensive insight, context and analysis of technologies, business developments and operational trends in every segment of global aviation and aerospace.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report is relied upon for the latest, critical intelligence on programs, budgets and policies in defense, as well as military and civil space.
Incentives can be important drivers of innovation. See how prizes are spurring change.
Check out articles, white papers, interactive features and more.
Learn about new manufacturing technologies that are helping to boost performance and cut costs.
View articles from Aviation Week publications and white papers and views sponsored by Makino
Virgin Galactic will update progress on flight tests of its SpaceShipTwo (SS2) at the Farnborough air show next week where, for the first time, it will also be displaying a full-scale replica of the sub-orbital vehicle. Scaled Composites, the developer of both SS2 and the WhiteKnightTwo ‘mothership’ which carries the spaceship to launch altitude, meanwhile resumed glide tests of SS2 at Mojave, Calif on June 26. The mods were mainly focused on the redesign of strakes on the inboard of the SS2 vertical tails. Although a deceptively minor-looking alteration from two separate strakes per side to one larger one, the change is important for countering a tail stall condition uncovered during tests last September. Scaled says the stall event, from which the crew recovered successfully by using the vehicle’s unique feathering device, was at a specific condition which the operational SS2 will not encounter. However, just like a commercial aircraft, the SS2 will be a certificated passenger-carrying vehicle which will be passed safe to enter service only after the flight envelope has been fully explored. Although no clear images of the revised ‘mega-strake’ have emerged, here are a few images showing the evolution of the tail since 2010. Initial glide flight – single strake. October 2010 (Mark Greenberg/Virgin Galactic) Static display – twin strakes February 2011 (Guy Norris) Resumption of glide flights – single 'mega-strake' June 2012 (Virgin Galactic)
Virgin Galactic will update progress on flight tests of its SpaceShipTwo (SS2) at the Farnborough air show next week where, for the first time, it will also be displaying a full-scale replica of the sub-orbital vehicle. Scaled Composites, the developer of both SS2 and the WhiteKnightTwo ‘mothership’ which carries the spaceship to launch altitude, meanwhile resumed glide tests of SS2 at Mojave, Calif on June 26.
The mods were mainly focused on the redesign of strakes on the inboard of the SS2 vertical tails. Although a deceptively minor-looking alteration from two separate strakes per side to one larger one, the change is important for countering a tail stall condition uncovered during tests last September. Scaled says the stall event, from which the crew recovered successfully by using the vehicle’s unique feathering device, was at a specific condition which the operational SS2 will not encounter. However, just like a commercial aircraft, the SS2 will be a certificated passenger-carrying vehicle which will be passed safe to enter service only after the flight envelope has been fully explored.
Although no clear images of the revised ‘mega-strake’ have emerged, here are a few images showing the evolution of the tail since 2010.
Initial glide flight – single strake. October 2010 (Mark Greenberg/Virgin Galactic)
Static display – twin strakes February 2011 (Guy Norris)
Resumption of glide flights – single 'mega-strake' June 2012 (Virgin Galactic)
Tags: os99, SS2, ScaledComposites, VirginGalactic, Mojave, WK2