Comments on: Dreamchaser passes first flight test https://habitablezone.com/2012/06/23/dreamchaser-passes-first-flight-test/ Sat, 25 Apr 2026 01:00:29 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ainz https://habitablezone.com/2012/06/23/dreamchaser-passes-first-flight-test/#comment-16016 Ainz Tue, 26 Jun 2012 17:53:47 +0000 http://habitablezone.net/?p=17316#comment-16016 Speaking of payload fairings, and odd shapes, <a href="http://www.ata-e.com/asymmetric-payload-fairing" rel="nofollow">this one</a> might fit. (Dreamchaser) Link to <a href="http://www.ata-e.com/uploads/Large%20Asymmetric%20Fairing%20Data%20Sheet.pdf" rel="nofollow">Data Sheet</a> PDF Speaking of payload fairings, and odd shapes, this one might fit. (Dreamchaser)

Link to Data Sheet PDF

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2012/06/23/dreamchaser-passes-first-flight-test/#comment-15973 TB Sat, 23 Jun 2012 20:42:24 +0000 http://habitablezone.net/?p=17316#comment-15973 <p>Folding wings are not a bad idea, but complicated and adds weight.</p> And with lifting bodies, you're out of luck. The Shuttle had to deal with the orbiter's aerodynamics on launch, and they used the orbiter's control surfaces to compensate. Folding wings are not a bad idea, but complicated and adds weight.

And with lifting bodies, you’re out of luck.

The Shuttle had to deal with the orbiter’s aerodynamics on launch, and they used the orbiter’s control surfaces to compensate.

]]> By: RobVG https://habitablezone.com/2012/06/23/dreamchaser-passes-first-flight-test/#comment-15965 RobVG Sat, 23 Jun 2012 18:32:44 +0000 http://habitablezone.net/?p=17316#comment-15965 Is there any reason the "fins" couldn't be made to fold? Is there any reason the “fins” couldn’t be made to fold?

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2012/06/23/dreamchaser-passes-first-flight-test/#comment-15963 TB Sat, 23 Jun 2012 18:27:03 +0000 http://habitablezone.net/?p=17316#comment-15963 <p>Stability issues on launch are going to be a problem.</p> When our space company was looking at lifting bodies and winged vehicles on top of conventional rockets, the main issue was control during the atmospheric portion of the launch. An assymetric aerodynamic load like that on the top of a rocket is not a simple issue. Note that the X-37 is launched inside a large fairing, although security is probably another factor there. It may be possible to link the aerodynamic control surfaces of the spaceplane to the guidance system so it can help instead of hinder. That kind of thing is over my pay grade. I do know that the only design I worked on that put a small spaceplane on a conventional rocket eventually ended up with it mounted on the rocket's side (it wasn't multiple-staged). I still have the tradeoffs on file somewhere. <img src="http://habitablezone.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Orbiter_sky.jpg" alt="" /> Stability issues on launch are going to be a problem.

When our space company was looking at lifting bodies and winged vehicles on top of conventional rockets, the main issue was control during the atmospheric portion of the launch. An assymetric aerodynamic load like that on the top of a rocket is not a simple issue.

Note that the X-37 is launched inside a large fairing, although security is probably another factor there.

It may be possible to link the aerodynamic control surfaces of the spaceplane to the guidance system so it can help instead of hinder. That kind of thing is over my pay grade.

I do know that the only design I worked on that put a small spaceplane on a conventional rocket eventually ended up with it mounted on the rocket’s side (it wasn’t multiple-staged). I still have the tradeoffs on file somewhere.

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