SpaceShipOne

Lance EricksonMSA 603

SpaceShipOne Suborbital Project

•Introduction•Mission & Objectives•Flight Operations•Flight Vehicle & Characteristics•Launch Vehicle•Spacecraft•Costs•Summary•References

SpaceShipOne and White Knight

Introduction

Introduction

SpaceShipOne was the first successful suborbital civil space flight vehicle launched into space

•Unique, low-cost, multi-flight, ballistic reentry, composite vehicle

•Unique, low cost launcher – White Knight

•Inaugural flight into space was made in in 2004

•SpaceShipOne was a proof-of-concept project and no commercial operations were planned by Scaled Composites

SpaceShipOne suborbital vehicle

Basic Operations

•Air launched from 50,000’ (White Knight)

•1 pilot, 1 passenger

•Hybrid rocket engine

•Composite construction

•285 KEAS maximum speed for ballistic flight

•Flight trajectory to 100 km altitude

•Manual control until reentry

•Conventional (runway) landing

Objectives

Objectives

•SpaceShipOne was designed as a multiple-launch suborbital manned vehicle to conform to the X-Prize requirements

•$10M award to the first to fly to 100 km & return•Had to be repeated within 3 weeks•Civilian passenger required

•Air launch for lowest cost

SpaceShipOne attached under White Knight

Note similar cockpit size & shape

Useful for simplified pilot training, and aerodynamic & operational tests

Flight Operations

Flight Operations

SpaceShipOne (SSO) is launched from the White Knight carrier

•The White Knight is a two-engine turbojet high-lift, high altitude carrier and launch aircraft

•Separation (launch) at 50,000’

•SSO then goes through an automated pitch up maneuver and rocket ignition

•Pitch up further to ~80o

•Reentry after burnout and coast

•~ 3.5 min in zero-g

•Attitude controlled with pressurized air thrusters until reentry

Flight Profile

Flight Operations (cont.)

• Reentry temperature maximum ~ 1,200Reentry temperature maximum ~ 1,200ooFF

• Maximum loading 5 g during reentry (4 g for more than Maximum loading 5 g during reentry (4 g for more than 20 sec)20 sec)

• Stability provided during critical reentry interface by Stability provided during critical reentry interface by “shuttlecock” rear aerofoil“shuttlecock” rear aerofoil

• Increased drag from deployed shuttlecock (Feather) Increased drag from deployed shuttlecock (Feather) reduces reentry loads:reduces reentry loads:• Reduces maximum speed to Mach 3.3 (Space Shuttle ~ Mach Reduces maximum speed to Mach 3.3 (Space Shuttle ~ Mach

25)25)

• Maximum g loading ~ 4gMaximum g loading ~ 4g

• Reduced thermal loading and maximum temperatureReduced thermal loading and maximum temperature

Flight Operations (cont.)Flight Operations (cont.)

• Electrically-operated aerodynamic controls employed after initial entry

• Automated reentry & approach

• Feather structure includes rudders, elevons and trim stab controls

• Feather structure extension & retraction by pneumatic controls

• Terminal velocity ~ 60 KEAS (knots, equivalent airspeed) • 1 knot = 1.6 mph

Shuttlecock Feather Extended

Flight Operations (cont.)

• Feather empenage retracted after reentry to reduce stress

• Normal glider control and characteristics from Feather retraction to landing

• Approach ~ 110 Knots

• Touchdown ~ 70 Knots

• Landing made on rear main gear wheels and skid front gear

Launch Vehicle – White Knight

Launch Vehicle – White Knight

• The White Knight is a twin turtbojet powered carrier aircraft used to lift spacecraft to 50,000’ to reduce the space vehicle’s propulsion, size & cost• J85-GE-5 with afterburner, rated at 3,850 lbf

• Unique design for unique mission

• Used also for aerodynamic testing of supersonic SpaceShipOne• Wind tunnel testing expensive

• 82’ wingspan

• Vne = 160 KEAS (Vne = never exceed velocity)

White Knight and SpaceShipOne

White Knight in flight

SSO Spacecraft

Spacecraft

•Composite structure with Nomex core

•Designed to withstand supersonic reentry and Feather deployment

•High temperatures reduced by high-drag, reduced reentry velocity configuration

•Stability during reentry provided by shuttlecock Feather

•Entry attitude can be almost any angle

•Retracted Feather also provides lift for unpowered glide to landing

Diagram of SpaceShipOneDiagram of SpaceShipOne

Diagram of SpaceShipOneDiagram of SpaceShipOne

Spacecraft (cont.)

Primary systems

• Structure

• Propulsion

• Thermal control

• Attitude & aerodynamic control

• Life support

• Guidance, navigation & control

• Landing gear

Spacecraft (cont.)

Structure

• Monocoque structure made of composite • Carbon-fiber/epoxy honeycomb

• Nomex core• Nomex is a fire-resistant meta-aramid polymer material related to

nylon

• Ablation material on 25% of highest temp surface

• Fiberglass is used in the rear hinge region for antenna transmission transparency

• Escape provided by nose drop & parachute

Spacecraft (cont.)

Structure

Empty weight: 2,640 lb (1,200 kg)

Loaded weight: 7,920 lb (3,600 kg)

Spacecraft (cont.)

Propulsion

• Hybrid rocket engine • Solid fuel core

• Nitrous oxide oxidizer stored in forward tank as liquid

• 65-second burn to reach Mach 3.6 (240 KEAS, 2,170 mph, 3,518 km/h)

• Throttleable, and can be shut down and restarted

• Low cost rocket engine was developed & tested by a separate company - SpaceDev

Hybrid rocket engine Solid fuel - butylated rubber Oxidizer – liquid nitrous oxide

SSO hybrid rocket engine test (Mojave site)

Spacecraft (cont.)

Thermal control

• Maximum temperature ~1,200oF

• Maximum temp regions covered with 0.035” proprietary ablative material

• Can be recoated easily for subsequent flights

• Phenolic resin covers other intermediate-heat areas

Spacecraft (cont.)

Attitude control• Compressed gas thrusters for use above the atmosphere

• Pitch & yaw thrusters forward• Roll thrusters outboard on Feather structure

• Aerodynamic control surfaces for boost, reentry and glide phases

• Elevons (outboard) for pitch & roll control

• Twin, split rudders (outboard) for yaw control

• Upper rudder section used for subsonic flight• Lower rudder section used for supersonic flight

• Trim stabilizers

Spacecraft (cont.)

Life support

• Atmosphere provided from compressed gas tanks on the SSO after launch• Atmosphere provided by White Knight bleed air while

attached

• Humidity removal by fan and stored dessicant

• CO2 removal by “Sodiabsorb”

• Emergency escape provided by cabin drop section and/or left cabin door (used for vent during taxi) and crew parachutes• Parachutes used only for emergency bailout

Spacecraft (cont.)

Guidance, Navigation & Control

• Hand flown during ascent and weightlessness

• Onboard computer control (autopilot) during reentry

• Avionics included GPS navigation

• Dual pitot tube air data provided

Spacecraft (cont.)

Landing gear

• Deployable dual main gear• Deployable front nose skid• Touchdown ~ 60 Knots

Cost Estimate

Costs

• Development & production ~$20 M

• Individual flight (projected) ~ $80,000

• Certification (FAA/NASA) ~ $80-$100 M

• Funded by Paul Allen (Microsoft)

Summary

Summary

• The SpaceShipOne program proved the ability to fly The SpaceShipOne program proved the ability to fly civilians on suborbital space flights safely, simply civilians on suborbital space flights safely, simply and inexpensivelyand inexpensively

• Designed to also satisfy X-Prize requirementsDesigned to also satisfy X-Prize requirements

• White Knight test flights included 30 by April, 2003White Knight test flights included 30 by April, 2003

• First SSO flight dropped from 48,000’First SSO flight dropped from 48,000’

• First space flight 2004First space flight 2004

• 2nd X-Prize flight Oct 4, 20042nd X-Prize flight Oct 4, 2004

Summary (cont.)

• Civil flights being developed by Virgin Atlantic director (Richard Branson)

• Space operation certification required to fly public passengers

• Both vehicles developed by Scaled Composites (Burt Rutan)

Post-flight celebration (left to right)Peter Diamandis (X-Prize), Paul Allen (primary sponsor),

Burt Rutan (designer), Brian Binnie (pilot)

Postscript - SpaceShipTwo

Diagram of SpaceShipOneDiagram of SpaceShipOne

SpaceShipTwo

• SpaceShipTwo (SS2) is under development as a suborbital spaceplane for carrying space tourists

• Development and operation by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic enterprise

• Virgin Galactic spaceline plans to operate a fleet of five of these craft in passenger-carrying private spaceflight service starting no earlier than 2011

• Ticket costs are expected to be $200,000-$250,000

• Capacity:• 2 crew• Six passengers

References:

Aviation Week & Space Technology, April 21, 2003

Scaled Composites-Virgin Atlantichttp://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/092704_scaled_paul_allen_virgin_galactic.htm