Virgin Galactic has donated SpaceShipTwo’s VSS unity historic rocket motor to the Smithsonian National. This is the power-plant that took the craft into space for the first time this past December. Virgin Galactic represents both “technical achievement” as well as proof of what you can do through “entrepreneurial innovation,” according to museum.
The motor will eventually be on display as part of a planned Future of Spaceflight gallery devoted to commercial ventures beyond Earth. The people have to wait a while to see it.
Virgin Galactic rocket motor
The Virgin Galactic spaceplane VSS Unity, also known as SpaceShipTwo, made history as the first private commercial passenger spacecraft to travel into space when, under control of two test pilots, it thundered to an altitude of 51.4 miles (82.7 km) at a speed of Mach 3 (1,934 knots, 2,225 mph, 3,581 km/h) before returning safely to Earth.
This was accomplished using a 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) hybrid rocket motor that combines the simple design of a solid rocket motor with the power and control of a liquid rocket engine. Instead of using purely liquid or solid fuel, the TSC engine uses a plug of polyamide plastic fuel and liquid nitrous oxide as an oxidizer. This allows it to generate 72,000 lb (320 kN) of thrust for 60 seconds, yet it can be throttled at will by controlling the flow of the oxidizer. According to the Guinness World Records, it holds the world’s record for the most powerful hybrid rocket to be used in manned flight.
Virgin Galactic says that VSS Unity and other craft in the SpaceShipTwo fleet will use similar motors to carry passengers and commercial payloads into space on suborbital trajectories. For passengers, a hybrid motor is especially attractive because it can be shut down at any time if an emergency occurs.
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