Commercial space shuttle prototypes fly through wind tunnel testing

Commercial space shuttle prototypes fly through wind tunnel testing

A pair of companies developing their own commercial space shuttles are presumably trying to flatten their hair after some rigorous wind tunnel testing. First up, Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos (the guy behind Amazon), which has largely quiet on its efforts to shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station. Its Space Vehicle setup will plump for a biconic shape (seen above), with a flattened side and a split flap. According to Blue Origin's president, Rob Meyerson, the shape allows greater volume than traditional designs, but forgo the "weight penalty" of winged craft. Compared to earlier capsules, the Space Vehicle's shape, with its fuselage flap to generate lift, should also give it better control on re-entry to earth.

Juggling for wind tunnel time, Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser has also been blasted with smoke to test its own air resistance credentials. Its module would lauch from the top of the rocket, and glide (as much as anything that costs this much can) back to earth like NASA's own space shuttles. The Dream Chaser is planning its first flight for this fall. You can check out its more traditional take on the future of space travel after the break -- and decide which of the two you'll want sending your children to the mines.

[Picture credit: Blue Origin, SNC]

Continue reading Commercial space shuttle prototypes fly through wind tunnel testing

Commercial space shuttle prototypes fly through wind tunnel testing originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceWired  | Email this | Comments


the maldives harper lee mega millions numbers the fray seahawks new uniforms 2012 tornadoes in dallas anchorman 2

Google Drive ? Another Option for Cloud Storage

Another option for those who need more Cloud storage, Google has just released Google Drive. 5GB is available to all Google users free, and plans allow you to upgrade to up to 16TB. ? With Google Drive, you’ll be able to create and collaborate in real time (it incorporates Google Docs as well), store your [...]

sxsw crystal cathedral st. patrick s day brandon lloyd brandon lloyd celtic thunder fabrice muamba collapse

Russian Cargo Spacecraft Set to Swan Dive into the Pacific ? This happens all the time, please be SELECTIVE on space stories or any off topic [Space]

Progress 46, a Russian cargo spacecraft carrying about a ton of space waste, is schedule to splash down into the Pacific ocean today, at approximately 6:45pm Moscow time. The spacecraft's specifically targeted "burial site" is in a remote region of the water, far from any shipping routes, though by the time it's splashed down into the blue the dense layers of the Earth's atmosphere will have burned the Progress into a not-too-threatening debris. More »


saints vs 49ers vanessa marcil 49 ers frank gore frank gore nfl games jesus montero

You Can Buy This $195 Million US Navy Stealth Ship for Just $100,000 [Ships]

If I had $100,000 handy, I would bid for the Sea Shadow, the stealth ship that DARPA built for the US Navy in 1983. It's now for sale at GSA Auctions. The original price tag: the US Government paid $195 million to Lockheed Martin to build it. And you get a HMB-1 Mining Barge too in the package too. More »


toys r us shame shame the waltons the waltons weta weta