Spaceship 1

[Badwater Bill]

Don't ya love it! Mike Melville of all people earned that ride by
working with Burt for more than 30 years on all the projects. Mike
was around before the Long EZE. At 62 years old, Mike becomes an
astronaut. Burt doesn't pick some snot nosed little 30 year old smart
ass fighter jock, but puts Mike in that seat. I just love it. If
anyone in that organization earned that ride, it was Melville.

Throwing the M&M's was a move of pure taste (no pun intended)? Good
for Melville, the first commercial astronaut in the history of our
species!

God Damn, I'm stoked. Burt and Mike doing that put humans back on the
list of something that might be worth populating this Earth.

One thing really came to mind after this mission and that was how
focused Burt and crew can be. The X-Prize is to go to 100 kilometers
and back. That little "Flash Gordon" type space ship will do that at
Mach 2.5. It's interesting that to get into orbit requires Mach 25,
or ten times the speed. At ten times the speed, since kinetic energy
is quadratic with velocity, e.g. Energy = 1/2 Mass * Velocity **2,
that means the little ship would need 100 times more energy to do
that...and 100 times more fuel to do that. Now you know why the space
shuttle has all those external rockets and the big tank. I find it an
interesting thought that a ballistic ride into space only requires
1/100th fuel getting into orbit requires.

BWB

[Richard Lamb]

Badwater Bill wrote:
>
> Don't ya love it! Mike Melville of all people earned that ride by
> working with Burt for more than 30 years on all the projects. Mike
> was around before the Long EZE. At 62 years old, Mike becomes an
> astronaut. Burt doesn't pick some snot nosed little 30 year old smart
> ass fighter jock, but puts Mike in that seat. I just love it. If
> anyone in that organization earned that ride, it was Melville.
>
> Throwing the M&M's was a move of pure taste (no pun intended)? Good
> for Melville, the first commercial astronaut in the history of our
> species!
>
> God Damn, I'm stoked. Burt and Mike doing that put humans back on the
> list of something that might be worth populating this Earth.
>
> One thing really came to mind after this mission and that was how
> focused Burt and crew can be. The X-Prize is to go to 100 kilometers
> and back. That little "Flash Gordon" type space ship will do that at
> Mach 2.5. It's interesting that to get into orbit requires Mach 25,
> or ten times the speed. At ten times the speed, since kinetic energy
> is quadratic with velocity, e.g. Energy = 1/2 Mass * Velocity **2,
> that means the little ship would need 100 times more energy to do
> that...and 100 times more fuel to do that. Now you know why the space
> shuttle has all those external rockets and the big tank. I find it an
> interesting thought that a ballistic ride into space only requires
> 1/100th fuel getting into orbit requires.
>
> BWB

I'm with you all the way, Bill, except for the fuel increase.

To go 100 times faster will take more than 100 times the fuel.

Drag is higher at higher speeds, and the C of D increases in the
transonic and supersonic ranges...


Richard

[Richard Isakson]

"Richard Lamb" wrote ...
> I'm with you all the way, Bill, except for the fuel increase.
>
> To go 100 times faster will take more than 100 times the fuel.
>
> Drag is higher at higher speeds, and the C of D increases in the
> transonic and supersonic ranges...

It's worst than that Richard. You have to carry more fuel to lift the extra
fuel (and structure) that you use to go faster. Then you need more fuel to
lift that fuel. Then ...

Rich

[Richard Lamb]

Richard Isakson wrote:
>
> "Richard Lamb" wrote ...
> > I'm with you all the way, Bill, except for the fuel increase.
> >
> > To go 100 times faster will take more than 100 times the fuel.
> >
> > Drag is higher at higher speeds, and the C of D increases in the
> > transonic and supersonic ranges...
>
> It's worst than that Richard. You have to carry more fuel to lift the extra
> fuel (and structure) that you use to go faster. Then you need more fuel to
> lift that fuel. Then ...
>
> Rich


Yepper.

Bottom line, that ol' 1953 Chevy Space Truck (Orbiter) is still one
of mankind's most amazing accomplishment.

Rich (the other one)

[pacplyer]

(Badwater Bill) wrote in message >...
> Don't ya love it! Mike Melville of all people earned that ride by
> working with Burt for more than 30 years on all the projects. Mike
> was around before the Long EZE. At 62 years old, Mike becomes an
> astronaut. Burt doesn't pick some snot nosed little 30 year old smart
> ass fighter jock, but puts Mike in that seat. I just love it. If
> anyone in that organization earned that ride, it was Melville.

I just love it. BWB, let's get you over there for the orbital
interview, after all you're a spring chicken compared to Mike, and
Burt doesn't want Top Gun primadonas, he wants old farts who can fly
gliders! Hell I'll even fly chase for you. ;-)

>
> Throwing the M&M's was a move of pure taste (no pun intended)? Good
> for Melville, the first commercial astronaut in the history of our
> species!
>
> God Damn, I'm stoked. Burt and Mike doing that put humans back on the
> list of something that might be worth populating this Earth.

****in A'! Well said.

>
> One thing really came to mind after this mission and that was how
> focused Burt and crew can be. The X-Prize is to go to 100 kilometers
> and back. That little "Flash Gordon" type space ship will do that at
> Mach 2.5. It's interesting that to get into orbit requires Mach 25,
> or ten times the speed. At ten times the speed, since kinetic energy
> is quadratic with velocity, e.g. Energy = 1/2 Mass * Velocity **2,
> that means the little ship would need 100 times more energy to do
> that...and 100 times more fuel to do that. Now you know why the space
> shuttle has all those external rockets and the big tank. I find it an
> interesting thought that a ballistic ride into space only requires
> 1/100th fuel getting into orbit requires.
>
> BWB

Check out Tim Wards idea over at the "space slingshot" thread. Do you
think that would work? I think a 747-200F has plenty of power to tow
a big lifting body with monster glider wings aloft, thereby
eliminating a lot of the fuel needed for the first stage (just like
white knight.) At 45,000 ft the glider's at 100,000 ft. The lifting
body/orbiter drops off the glider wings and lights the candle for
orbital insertion. Pretty hairy, but I bet we could sell it to Paul
Allen!

pac

p.s. RAH gets to build the glider wings or the whole deal is off!

[Sean Trost]

Im in !!!
Sean "Spacedmanspiff" Trost

pacplyer wrote:
> (Badwater Bill) wrote in message >...
>
>>Don't ya love it! Mike Melville of all people earned that ride by
>>working with Burt for more than 30 years on all the projects. Mike
>>was around before the Long EZE. At 62 years old, Mike becomes an
>>astronaut. Burt doesn't pick some snot nosed little 30 year old smart
>>ass fighter jock, but puts Mike in that seat. I just love it. If
>>anyone in that organization earned that ride, it was Melville.
>
>
> I just love it. BWB, let's get you over there for the orbital
> interview, after all you're a spring chicken compared to Mike, and
> Burt doesn't want Top Gun primadonas, he wants old farts who can fly
> gliders! Hell I'll even fly chase for you. ;-)
>
>
>>Throwing the M&M's was a move of pure taste (no pun intended)? Good
>>for Melville, the first commercial astronaut in the history of our
>>species!
>>
>>God Damn, I'm stoked. Burt and Mike doing that put humans back on the
>>list of something that might be worth populating this Earth.
>
>
> ****in A'! Well said.
>
>
>>One thing really came to mind after this mission and that was how
>>focused Burt and crew can be. The X-Prize is to go to 100 kilometers
>>and back. That little "Flash Gordon" type space ship will do that at
>>Mach 2.5. It's interesting that to get into orbit requires Mach 25,
>>or ten times the speed. At ten times the speed, since kinetic energy
>>is quadratic with velocity, e.g. Energy = 1/2 Mass * Velocity **2,
>>that means the little ship would need 100 times more energy to do
>>that...and 100 times more fuel to do that. Now you know why the space
>>shuttle has all those external rockets and the big tank. I find it an
>>interesting thought that a ballistic ride into space only requires
>>1/100th fuel getting into orbit requires.
>>
>>BWB
>
>
> Check out Tim Wards idea over at the "space slingshot" thread. Do you
> think that would work? I think a 747-200F has plenty of power to tow
> a big lifting body with monster glider wings aloft, thereby
> eliminating a lot of the fuel needed for the first stage (just like
> white knight.) At 45,000 ft the glider's at 100,000 ft. The lifting
> body/orbiter drops off the glider wings and lights the candle for
> orbital insertion. Pretty hairy, but I bet we could sell it to Paul
> Allen!
>
> pac
>
> p.s. RAH gets to build the glider wings or the whole deal is off!

[Badwater Bill]

On Sun, 27 Jun 2004 15:15:07 GMT, Sean Trost >
wrote:

>Im in !!!
>Sean "Spacedmanspiff" Trost
>


****...I'm in too. I'll fly the ****ing thing if they need a "Wind
Dummy"

BWB

P.S. all you low time ****ers have no idea what a wind dummy is. When
you fly gliders it's the first guy to launch in the morning and try to
stay up. If the wind dummy makes it, everybody wants to tow up. IF
he ends up back on the airport, then the thermals aren't strong enough
yet.

Same thing hang gliding. It's the first one with the balls to run off
the cliff. If he can't stay up, everybody waits until the conditions
develop with more sun light and more thermals.

I have to explain this because there are people here like Dave Munday
who read this stuff and may never understand it if you didn't explain
the joke.

[Morgans]

"Badwater Bill" > wrote
>
> ****...I'm in too. I'll fly the ****ing thing if they need a "Wind
> Dummy"
>
> BWB
>

I'm sure they want two "FAA sized" passengers, not your fat ass, Bill! <g>

--
Jim (ducking and running) in NC


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"Badwater Bill" > wrote in message
...
>
> Don't ya love it! Mike Melville of all people earned that ride by
> working with Burt for more than 30 years on all the projects. Mike
> was around before the Long EZE. At 62 years old, Mike becomes an
> astronaut. Burt doesn't pick some snot nosed little 30 year old smart
> ass fighter jock, but puts Mike in that seat. I just love it. If
> anyone in that organization earned that ride, it was Melville.
>
> Throwing the M&M's was a move of pure taste (no pun intended)? Good
> for Melville, the first commercial astronaut in the history of our
> species!
>
> God Damn, I'm stoked. Burt and Mike doing that put humans back on the
> list of something that might be worth populating this Earth.
>
> One thing really came to mind after this mission and that was how
> focused Burt and crew can be. The X-Prize is to go to 100 kilometers
> and back. That little "Flash Gordon" type space ship will do that at
> Mach 2.5. It's interesting that to get into orbit requires Mach 25,
> or ten times the speed. At ten times the speed, since kinetic energy
> is quadratic with velocity, e.g. Energy = 1/2 Mass * Velocity **2,
> that means the little ship would need 100 times more energy to do
> that...and 100 times more fuel to do that. Now you know why the space
> shuttle has all those external rockets and the big tank. I find it an
> interesting thought that a ballistic ride into space only requires
> 1/100th fuel getting into orbit requires.
>
> BWB


I was there with my wife adn three kids that morning.

We arrived at 4:00AM at Mojave Airport. People were incredibly friendly,
helpful and peaceful.

Awe insipring and a testament to American ingenutiy, guts and creativity.

May God continue to bless America!

James
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