.......In fact, there is little in Bowers book that is not already known about Galactics dismal record so far. Branson presents an easy target because he has so frequently over-promised on his bid to introduce so-called space tourism.
The first passenger-carrying flight was supposed to happen in 2007. The date then slipped to 2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
and now to later this year.
Dont hold your breath.
The fact that the project retains any credibility at all is due to two very different things. First, Bransons boundless optimism and relentless promotional machine that seems to turn skeptics into road kill. Second is the fact that engineers who really understand what Galactic is trying to do say that there are so many technical challenges involved, so many things that have to work that havent been done before, that a prudent manager would not have expected (or predicted) quicker results.
Then there is the gap between the language and the reality.
Galactic was an absurdly romantic tag to attach to the program. There will be no venturing beyond gravitys pull.
What is basically being attempted is a ballistic, sub-orbital flight, like a ride atop a short-range missile. Technically the border of what is called space is set at 62 miles above earth. Virgin Galactics SpaceShipTwo will reach an apogee of 68 miles. Then it willwithout powerfall back to earth.
Its clear that he launched Virgin Galactic without remotely understanding the complexity of the technical challenges involved and, probably, still doesnt.
As that fall begins, the six passengers aboard will enjoy about five minutes of weightlessness before SpaceShipTwo assumes a controlled glide back to the Virgin Galactic Spaceport in New Mexico. To be sure, the views will be gob-smacking, but they wont include galaxies.
Bowers most serious claim, supported by little evidence, is that SpaceShipTwos rocket motor is not powerful enough to achieve the velocity necessary to reach 68 miles above earth with two pilots and six passengers aboard.
So far, there have been three rocket-powered flight tests. The first, in April last year, reached 55,000 feet and a top speed of 920 mph; the second achieved a speed of 1,100 mph as did the third, this month, which also reached the highest point yet, 71,000 feet.
To reach its target, SpaceShipTwo must be flying at 2,500 mph after just over a minute of rocket burn. (Compare this to the 17,500 mph needed to break free of gravity and go into orbit, and you can see the relative modesty of the aim).
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