General Discussion

[ProjectVRD]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17864782

This is it folks, it all counts from here on in. I hope it works, should the machine actually be built then in theory it should make those American firms trying to do space commercialisation all but bankrupt. Why spend all that money taking equipment into space when there is an easier and cheaper way?!

[Mike939]

This looks to be a very viable alternative to current orbital launchers. It is going to require a lot of redundancy in the nitrogen cooling system though. That pump cuts out and you've got a very expensive firework.

Also I hope Mr. Cameron puts lots of government funds into this and helps the 'Big Economy' to come back with lots of manufacturing here in this country.

[ProjectVRD]

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Mike939 wrote:
This looks to be a very viable alternative to current orbital launchers. It is going to require a lot of redundancy in the nitrogen cooling system though. That pump cuts out and you've got a very expensive firework.

Also I hope Mr. Cameron puts lots of government funds into this and helps the 'Big Economy' to come back with lots of manufacturing here in this country.

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That is what happens when the BBC allows people with no education to use their comment section. Helium is inert!

[Mike939]

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ProjectVRD wrote:

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Mike939 wrote:
This looks to be a very viable alternative to current orbital launchers. It is going to require a lot of redundancy in the nitrogen cooling system though. That pump cuts out and you've got a very expensive firework.

Also I hope Mr. Cameron puts lots of government funds into this and helps the 'Big Economy' to come back with lots of manufacturing here in this country.

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That is what happens when the BBC allows people with no education to use their comment section. Helium is inert!

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Dammit

[dannyjt]

And there I was, thinking Mike got smart for a second.

[ProjectVRD]

Not to worry, the guy who posted that is correct if he was talking about the finished spaceplane. It is loaded with Hydrogen and Oxygen, but yeah this pre-cooler test is using none of that stored fuel, just oxygen from the atmosphere which should be safe... ish

[Strangesam]

Interesting news

[Chuk_Chuk]

I wonder if it would be possible to make this smaller and fit them in cars.

[ProjectVRD]

It has just been twittered that there will be an exclusive announcement on the BBC News at six and BBC 10 o'clock News programmes tonight.

[fenian]

I always hope things like this fail, am I the only one?