17 thoughts on “One Week Left In July”

  1. There was a self imposed deadline? I stopped counting years ago back when they had trouble with their in-house hybrid rocket engine.

    I wonder how many of the people who made a down payment have asked for their money back.

    1. There was a self imposed deadline?

      No, other than that after the first powered flight in the spring, they said they expected the next one in June. Then they had the engine-test “anomaly” in Mojave in May, where they apparently lost a lot of test stand…

      1. So now the SNC engine also failed? Yikes. I did not hear anything about that.

        Perhaps another of those issues which happen to people handling compressed nitrous oxide. I think I remember reading about LOX/HTPB hybrid engines once. I wonder if those would be safer. It would require handling cryogenic propellants however.

      2. Do you have any more information on that anomaly? You mentioned it a few weeks ago but I’ve seen nothing else about it anywhere.

      3. The sole public report on the May 17th Mojave test stand incident I’ve seen is at http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/05/20/scaled-blowed-up-rocket-engine-real-good-on-friday/

        Noteworthy also: They were testing Rocket Motor 2 every few weeks through the spring, but haven’t done any tests in the two months since the incident. Or at least haven’t announced them. http://www.scaled.com/projects/test_logs/33/model_339_spaceshiptwo

        “Results: Firing at Mojave test site by Scaled Composites of a non-flight experimental rocket motor in which flaws had been intentionally introduced to improve knowledge of different design components. Tested experimental grain to destruction. This unique test, which was necessary to perform during the test program, successfully collected data for several key safety systems.”

        I asked Virgin Galactic a number of technical questions about the test and its implications for SS2 operations afterwards, and their response was that the published test report was all they have to say on the matter.

        Two months later with no additional motor test firings, it does seem possible that the May 17 Mojave test may have identified motor issues they’re now working on.

        1. And those reports made it look like what happened was intentional and not an accident. So hopefully they found out what they wanted.

          1. Careful there. Scaled has said “flaws had been intentionally introduced”. They have not said they expected the result to be a toasted test stand and a motor casing gone walkabout. I expect they’d be happy if people infer that from what they did say, mind, but it’s not what they said.

    2. I still can’t figure out why we don’t build test stands out of Legos, because then if there’s an anomaly you just pick up all the scattered little Lego blocks and stick them back together.

      Of course, I also think ladders could be made out of laminated safety labels.

    1. Next week, I’m hoping. I’ve had some delays with business issues with Lightning Source, but I’m hoping to have a proof copy by the end of the month, at which point (barring any problems) it will be available POD.

    1. A brief look at the photo didn’t show me anthing different. Perhaps the flight was for pilot proficiency or training. There’s nothing yet on the Scaled website.

  2. I saw the Morpheus tethered test Tuesday. It went well and they’re all excited about resuming free flights at KSC. I think all the excitement was drowned out by some cricket chirping.

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