Space Ship One Launch

"Jay Beckman" wrote in message
news:5YQBc.7235$5t2.7155@fed1read01...
"Jim Thomas" wrote in message
m...
I noted from the TV news reports that Mr. Melville was wearing only a
flight suit and an oxygen mask (no full or partial pressure suit).
Does anyone know whether the cockpit was pressurized? If not (and even
if so) this was pretty risky.

Jim Thomas


Burt Rutan made reference to a "shirt sleeve" environment in the
cockpit...so I guess it was pressurized.


If he went any higher than about 55,000 feet is was.

Jim Thomas wrote:

I noted from the TV news reports that Mr. Melville was wearing only a
flight suit and an oxygen mask (no full or partial pressure suit).
Does anyone know whether the cockpit was pressurized? If not (and even
if so) this was pretty risky.

If he wasn't in a pressure suit, the cabin had to have been pressurized or he would
not have been able to survive.

George Patterson
None of us is as dumb as all of us.

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
...


Jim Thomas wrote:

I noted from the TV news reports that Mr. Melville was wearing only a
flight suit and an oxygen mask (no full or partial pressure suit).
Does anyone know whether the cockpit was pressurized? If not (and even
if so) this was pretty risky.

If he wasn't in a pressure suit, the cabin had to have been pressurized or
he would
not have been able to survive.

During the post event news conference, I asked those questions. Mr.
Melvill's responses we no, he does not wear anything other than flight
suit, helmet, and parachute; yes, the cabin is pressurized [to 14 psi]; it
is tested at 34 psi for a number of hours; the only leaks are at control
interfaces and they are tiny; one pre-launch check item is cracking open a
valve from an air-bottle to trickle air into the cabin. He said the dual
pane windows and tight fit of the door are excellent and he does not
consider depressurization a risk to consider.

"John Shelton" wrote in message
ink.net...

Nice write up. A correction: Not Glenn and Shephard.


What correction? Not Glenn and Shepard for what?

Just that the comparison of John Glenn and Alan Shepard wasn't really
analogous to Melvil's flight. Melvil actually flew the thing and landed it.
Therefore, it was more like the X-15 pilots than the Mercury astronauts or
the cosmonauts. (usual disclaimer here about everyone being brave, etc.)



"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
ink.net...

"John Shelton" wrote in message
ink.net...

Nice write up. A correction: Not Glenn and Shephard.


What correction? Not Glenn and Shepard for what?

I wonder what kind of flight plan he filed? Did he have to cancel when
he exceeded FL600? And pick up an IFR flight plan prior to descending
below 60,000ft?

Or maybe they just had one hell of a wave window!

Kirk

Or maybe they just had one hell of a wave window!

What's a wave window? Can I use it to go into space with an Archer?

Jose

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"Teacherjh" wrote in message
What's a wave window? Can I use it to go into space with an Archer?

Only if you junk the engine and add a little span. A Grob will get you
higher than an Archer.