49 replies to this topic

[DocM]

The curve helps get an upwards angle of thrust on the way up.

20 MT would be enough to loft 90%+ of all launched payloads, and perhaps several at once.

[neoadorable]

i demand 100 metric tons or more!!!

[DocM]

This gets the parts for something large up cheaply, plus it could do hypersonic intercontinental flights.

[neoadorable]

if it can do double duty as a passenger plane, then obviously this will help with expediting adoption and decrease the price significantly. i hope we can have these flying around soon!

[SPEhosting]

Xerxes, on 12 March 2011 - 01:06, said:

I dunno, how many people are going to be willing to travel in an unmanned spaceplane? I mean I'm sure it's perfectly safe but still..

MEMEMEMEMEMEEE I would be happy to be the test subject! even if i never came back It would be cool

[DocM]

We have to remember that the flight crew on most new airliners are redundant - they can take off, fly the route and land robotically now - and often once they're off the ground that's exactly what they do.

[DocM]

BBC articles on the Skylon and the tests of a key part of its SABRE dual-mode engine. SABRE alone could revolutionize high speed intercontinental transport even if it never flies to orbit.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...onment-17864782

http://www.bbc.co.uk...onment-17851603

[neoadorable]

you realize we didn't have any updates on this since January? what have they been doing in those four months? i demand more action!

[DocM]

Reaction Engines has been testing the pre-cooler that long, plus they're pretty tight lipped because of intellectual property concerns. Just the tech for making that pre-cooler is a major advance, not to mention its LH2 cooled skin.

[neoadorable]

when will we see this plane fly Doc? WHEN? i've been hearing Skylon this and Skylon that for years! i want action!

[DocM]

It take a long time go develop game-changing, bleeding-edge single stage to orbit tech like the SABRE engine and Skylon's refrigerated skin, but if it works out we may well see test flights by 2020. It'll be one helluva sight when Skylon finally rolls out.

[DocM]

Skylon Personnel Logistics Module (SPLM)

Note there is a "Pilot Cabin"

Attached Images

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

[DocM]

New website & video

Heat exchanger cooling rate: 400 megawatts

[url="http://www.reactionengines.co.uk/"]

[DocM]

Reaction Engines has received more funding, rumors are £200 million, and appears ready to scale up operations to a much higher level. Thesr kinds of people are what you'd hire to build prototypes....

Senior Engineers....

Contracts manager....

Program manager....

Design engineers....

[*RedBull*]

Next up.....Cylons!