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| SpaceShipThree poised to follow if SS2 succeeds |
| 2005-08-24 |
| Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites to develop orbital version of tourist spacecraft Orbital vehicle SpaceShipThree (SS3) will be developed by space tourism company Virgin Galactic and Mojave-based SpaceShipTwo (SS2)-developer Scaled Composites, if the planned SS2 suborbitalservice is successful, says Virgin Galactic president Will WhiteÂÂhorn. |
| Posted by:Ulavinter Whons8844 |
| #4 Not particularly large. About a 3' cube. I gather the idea was to fly in an optimal orbiting lane and get small objects classified as dangerous, based on some unknown criteria. Then I think they intended to melt it if they could to save space. Once full, it would just re-enter the atmosphere and burn up. Found a Tucson Star article referring to it: http://tinyurl.com/cp4u3 (2nd item listed) "A University of Arizona professor has a 15-year old patent for a robot that would collect dangerous space debris but his idea has remained dormant due to a lack of funding and interest." Unfortunately, their archive is a pay archive. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-08-24 21:34 |
| #3 Years ago, the University of Arizona developed a satellite whose sole purpose was to catch dangerous space garbage in orbit and bring it back to Earth :) Okay, how big was this satellite? :> |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-08-24 18:12 |
| #2 Moss does not grow on these guys. With the injection of DARPA and now Virgin money, these guys should soon be having enough business for bi- tri- and quarter-annual launches. Years ago, the University of Arizona developed a satellite whose sole purpose was to catch dangerous space garbage in orbit and bring it back to Earth. It was too simple, though important and desireable, to send up at such high prices. But now, it and a hundred other "also-ran" Earth satellites are back in the race. Good stuff. Press on, lads. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-08-24 14:43 |
| #1 This on the heels of NASA's announcement of a SRB derived launcher for the CEV and an inline shuttle derived HLV Link Even if SCC's SS3 can only function as an orbital taxi it will help drastically reduce the costs involved. |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2005-08-24 10:41 |