Falcon 1E + SpaceShip One

[XP67_Moonbat]

http://plasmawind.typepad.com/plasma_wind/2009/08/crazy-idea-no-318-falcon-1e-spaceshipone-tank-motor-wings-manned-microlauncher.html

Not even sure if this should go in Space Projects or not. Mods, feel free tomove this as you see fit.

Moonbat

 

[Just call me Ray]

Not quite that simple. I notice a distinct lack of launch abort escape system, to begin with.

 

[TomS]

Also, isn't it the case that Spaceship One's cabin leaks like a sieve? IIRC, it's not even meant to be truly pressure-tight, just slow the rate of air loss to an amount that the life support system can replace during a short parabolic flight. Or am I talking nonsense?

 

[mz]

You could very well be right. The solution of course would be to take out all the windows and decrease the hatch size too.

 

[FutureSpaceTourist]

According to Dan Linehan's SpaceShipOne book the sealed cabin had a small amount of leakage. However, the relatively short duration flight meant that no oxygen need to be added to the cabin to replace any lost or used. A scrubber did remove excess CO2.

SpaceShipTwo on the other hand I believe does replenish oxygen (see http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/VIRG09049.xml).