Fancy a quick trip into space

[TheCenturion]

Really cheap???

Virgin Galactic is aiming to become the world's first commercial space line, and has already taken deposits from 370 customers who want to experience a few minutes of weightlessness on a suborbital flight

I certainly wouldn't want to pay £126k for 'a few minutes'

 

[Makunouchi]

I certainly wouldn't want to pay £126k for 'a few minutes'

I think it's more about the combination of the weightlessness, the view and the fact you'd be joining one of the most exclusive clubs in the world - people who have left Earths atmosphere.

 

[TheCenturion]

I think it's more about the combination of the weightlessness, the view and the fact you'd be joining one of the most exclusive clubs in the world - people who have left Earths atmosphere.

But I personally wouldn't pay that. £126k for a mins of weightlessness and an amazing view. £126k to be part of a select group of people.

Obviously, if £126k was pocket money to me, then it'd be worth it. But even if I was on a very good salary, let's say £200k, I still don't think I'd do it.

 

[bmi92]

But I personally wouldn't pay that. £126k for a mins of weightlessness and an amazing view. £126k to be part of a select group of people.

Obviously, if £126k was pocket money to me, then it'd be worth it. But even if I was on a very good salary, let's say £200k, I still don't think I'd do it.

I don't think its aimed at people earning £200k to be honest, at least not at the moment.

 

[daz]

This will be like concorde - get in there whilst you can.

 

[Glaucus]

what does it achieve by hinging the wings like that

And hell yes if I had the money I would pay many times that to go to the edge of space.

 

[Makunouchi]

But I personally wouldn't pay that. £126k for a mins of weightlessness and an amazing view. £126k to be part of a select group of people.

Obviously, if £126k was pocket money to me, then it'd be worth it. But even if I was on a very good salary, let's say £200k, I still don't think I'd do it.

Really? If someone said to me that I could be part of a moon landing mission, but there was no chance I'd ever be able to return, and would definitely die on the lunar surface - I would definitely do it. I can't imagine anything else I'd rather do, words can't describe how incredible that would be.

 

[Chaos]

Theres an interesting talk here about commercialising space travel -

http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/ultimaonline/video/6273523

The founders of Amazon and Paypal have there own space companies so likes like there will be some competition.

 

[ShaolinDreams]

Shame there's no footage of the incredible view. Awesome none the less.

 

[Streeteh]

what does it achieve by hinging the wings like that .

Allows it to literally drop back into the atmosphere. The wings would be a weak point and the sheer force of dropping into the atmosphere would likely destroy them.

 

[-fedexer-]

Your average joe may never get the opportunity to try this out, unless for some reason it got exceptionally cheap! Maybe one day, i would love to do this, but short of winning the lottery... doubt i ever will

 

[markweatherill]

Perhaps all world leaders should be encouraged to do this.
The sight of the Earth from above is reputed to be quite something.

 

[Freefaller]

If ever I'm able to save the money for it - I'd do it without even thinking about it. If I were to die in space or having been to space, then so be it - this would be so so cool.

 

[Cosimo]

what does it achieve by hinging the wings like that

The design lets the craft self-adjust on the way back through the atmosphere, maintaining the trajectory needed for re-entry without any action by the pilot to an altitude where the wings can be repositioned for a glide back to the spaceport:

Perhaps the most radical safety feature employed by SpaceshipOne and now SpaceShipTwo is the unique way it returns into the dense atmosphere from the vacuum of space. This part of space flight has always been considered as one of the most technically challenging and dangerous and Burt Rutan was determined to find a failsafe solution which remained true to Scaled Composite's philosophy of safety through simplicity. His inspiration for what is known as the feathered re-entry was the humble shuttlecock, which like SpaceShipTwo relies on aerodynamic design and laws of physics to control speed and altitude.

Once out of the atmosphere the entire tail structure of the spaceship can be rotated upwards to about 65º. The feathered configuration allows an automatic control of attitude with the fuselage parallel to the horizon. This creates very high drag as the spacecraft descends through the upper regions of the atmosphere. The feather configuration is also highly stable, effectively giving the pilot a hands-free re-entry capability, something that has not been possible on spacecraft before, without resorting to computer controlled fly-by-wire systems.

The combination of high drag and low weight (due to the very light materials used to construct the vehicle) mean that the skin temperature during re-entry stays very low compared to previous manned spacecraft and thermal protection systems such as heat shields or tiles are not needed. Following re-entry at around 70,000ft, the feather lowers to its original configuration and the spaceship becomes a glider for the flight back to the spaceport runway.

Source

 

[Glaucus]

Wow thanks, very clever and interesting.

 

[MrKeeno]

Im going to wait till easyjet enter the market with no thrills space travel on the cheap.