Our next ride to space?

Cool video of Seirra Nevada Corp's (SNC) plan for the space shuttle replacement, the Dream Chaser. They hope to have an unmanned test flight to orbit in 2016:



Aviationist

Who can tell me what the airplane is with the super long wing span is at 1:48?

Sammamishman
Cool video of Seirra Nevada Corp's (SNC) plan for the space shuttle replacement, the Dream Chaser. They hope to have an unmanned test flight to orbit in 2016:

Aviationist

Who can tell me what the airplane is with the super long wing span is at 1:48?

Im sceptical of the dreamchaser. Unless its a SSTO Im sceptical of space planes. Im more hopefully for the Dragon Capsules and the CST-100 as capsules seem to be the safest and cheapest way to get people into orbit.

That brief clip of the extra long wing.. is a drone. Runs on nuclear power. Fat fuselage. 2 propellers. Launches from a large cart. The tail wings point downward. I have it in my data base somewhere. If you Google map....you'll see its tail sticking out of a hanger..

Can't remember if its Boeing or Lockheed.

Gimme a bit I'll search for it. It was unveiled last summer..no buyers yet!

Sammamishman
Cool video of Seirra Nevada Corp's (SNC) plan for the space shuttle replacement, the Dream Chaser. They hope to have an unmanned test flight to orbit in 2016:

Aviationist

Who can tell me what the airplane is with the super long wing span is at 1:48?

OK found it. It's the Boeing Phantom Eye. Its a whopper of a drone.

BOEING PHANTOM EYE. its run on hydrogen not nuclear. That's your mystery plane at 1:48


Based at Edwards.



Edit: trying to link the BOEING PHANTOM EYE. But the linking is kicking my butt right now.

The Dreamcatcher looks cool, nice post

reply to post by Bigburgh


Thanks, I knew I'd seen it before but could put my finger on it.



I didn't realize it was so big till I found pics of people standing next to it.

Bigburgh
BOEING PHANTOM EYE. its run on hydrogen not nuclear. That's your mystery plane at 1:48

edit on 29-1-2014 by Bigburgh because: (no reason given)

Based at Edwards.

edit on 29-1-2014 by Bigburgh because: (no reason given)

Edit: trying to link the BOEING PHANTOM EYE. But the linking is kicking my butt right now.

edit on 29-1-2014 by Bigburgh because: (no reason given)

edit on 29-1-2014 by Bigburgh because: (no reason given)

I can't add any input as to the new space shuttle or vehicle. Just wanted to say thanks for finding out what the aircraft on the ground was. Didn't even know that thing had existed and what a size it is ! I want one

You guys are welcome. sorry I couldn't link it...but there I see a nice pic. Thanks Sam

What pray tell is the mission for the Phantom eye
stealthy reconnaissance or long cruising range and time aloft?
It looks like the wings are designed for maximum lift and longevity of flight duration for spying on whatever is below it....
It reminds me of the" U2 propeller version.."..who will they use it on.........?

reply to post by stirling


4 days aloft. 450 lb payload. My guess its suitable for un-manned AWAC missions/data interceptions..honestly I don't know. Can't imagine it could be used for explosive ordinances. Only recon.

Edit: hey Samm. Maybe start another thread on phantom eye. I know this thread was in 2 parts. But the dream chaser is the main story.
Sorry I feel I drowned out dream chaser..not my intention. I swear.

reply to post by Bigburgh


Not a problem, I kind of asked about it in the OP so it should be OK.

Sammamishman
reply to post by Bigburgh

 

Not a problem, I kind of asked about it in the OP so it should be OK.

OK then.

Phantom eye was stalled but appears the project was picked up again as of this month.
Has a ceiling of 65,000 ft. Can relay signals 400 nautical miles. Don't know if that includes satellite links. That's all I got. Lol

Sammamishman


Who can tell me what the airplane is with the super long wing span is at 1:48?

Wow, you gotta good eye. Stared and stared at that thing, and just can't place it ( that's unusual for me ). Looks like the ' wings ' are very narrow, possibly even tubular ( ? ) . A mock-up of some sort is just a guess. The T-38's provide some scale...

Lokked at Edwards, but suspect this area is in the ' white out ' zone . Very lazy photoretouching IMO. Can't see the major tarmac & hanger areas... but, Skunkworks is wide open ( with a very interesting airplane collection laying about - even a Canberra ). B1B and B-2 , probably mock-ups parked out back semipermanent.

Anyhoo, thanks for the post.

Sammamishman
reply to post by Bigburgh

 

Thanks, I knew I'd seen it before but could put my finger on it.

I didn't realize it was so big till I found pics of people standing next to it.

Thanks, completely stumped me !

Bazart

Sammamishman
reply to post by Bigburgh

 

Thanks, I knew I'd seen it before but could put my finger on it.

I didn't realize it was so big till I found pics of people standing next to it.

Thanks, completely stumped me !

Lol..its rather a big Q-TIP with wings is it...only this Q-tip can take a photo of your pineal gland and read your thoughts...

Still waiting for them to release the full footage of the crash they had a few months back, and of the resulting damage that occurred? Whilst this ship may be capable of carrying crew to the ISS what else can it be used for? seems too small to take much else like satellites into space for launch? And not big enough to carry as large a contingent of joyriders to make it financially viable?

reply to post by solidshot


I think that's pretty much it. I think they can turn it into a autonomous cargo hauler but ferrying personnel to LEO is it's primary job.
Also, that the two competing projects pretty much do the same things and are only able to ferry stuff back and forth to the ISS. I think maybe NASA is looking for a cheap way to get stuff to and from the ISS without relying on the Russians or creating some hugely expensive government run program.
Of the three I think this one has the most character, who doesn't love a baby shuttle?

Struggling to keep track here, just forgetting the large glider....

The aircraft in the OP looks too small to carry any decent load into space and doesnt the ISS have a limited life, almost unworthy of designing a specific craft for just now?

I still find it such a shame that we couldnt unite the world for a International Space Program, I know that weapon technology, aerodynamics, rockets, comms, radar, computing and all manner of things would all be advanced in making that possible which means access to everyone (so it wont happen).

But when everyone is a super power...no one is.

Its just shame we humans are the way we are (wrt war, selfishness, greed, power, etc.), or else, we might see even more amazing things!

Sammamishman
reply to post by Bigburgh

 

Thanks, I knew I'd seen it before but could put my finger on it.

I didn't realize it was so big till I found pics of people standing next to it.

So at really high altitudes, where the air is thinner and thermals probably finish being warmer than the non existent air - when does a long thin gliders wing design become inefficient?

Also, those engines seem a little bulky, if a glider can climb on warm air, why does it need two large turboprops? Surely just tow it behing a B52 or something and then it will have much more payload??