4 ms·

Rocket-powered space planes get approval to operate out of NZ airports

43 points by keithnz 4y ago

heisenbit 4y ago
Interesting approach using jet engines to iterate quickly.
- avmich 4y ago
  Buran development used similar approach before.
totetsu 4y ago
There was an exnasa engineer who emigrated to NZ in the 90s and became a spaceplane guru. melenium twain? I think. My Eudora pro and later thunderbird mailbox backups are probably full of his newsletters. I'm glad to see this finally take off.
- bloopernova 4y ago
  Eudora Pro. Wow, that's a blast from the past.
andylynch 4y ago
Interesting to see the NZ space industry growing. Though I did also wonder if Peter Jackson had taken an interest in the Me-163 for his collection.
- hef19898 4y ago
  I am fairly certain nobody in his right mind would want to fly this thing under its own power. As a glider, sure.
  - imglorp 4y ago
    Yes especially considering the forced labor sometimes sabotaged them in subtle ways an overhaul might not reveal, and also considering the plane seems to have killed plenty in test and training. Oh and the toxic bipropellant you don't want to be around if there's a leak or explosion. This one is probably better restored on static display. https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196267/messerschmitt-me-163b-komet/ https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact...
    - hef19898 4y ago
      Some people built a replica, and flew it as a glider. Besides, a dual fuel, liquid rocket engine powered balsa-wood plane is such an unsafe design, it doesn't need a lot of sabotage to be a safety hazard.
    - cafard 4y ago
      Maximum powered endurance 7.5 minutes? Goodness.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
Gravityloss 4y ago
Wings and landing gear are quite heavy. But flying from airport to airport brings some operational flexibilities. It's good that someone's checking this approach. Starting from fast operations and low capability is an alternative to all the others that start from high capability but slow operations...

43 points by keithnz 4y ago

heisenbit 4y ago

Interesting approach using jet engines to iterate quickly.

avmich 4y ago
Buran development used similar approach before.

totetsu 4y ago

There was an exnasa engineer who emigrated to NZ in the 90s and became a spaceplane guru. melenium twain? I think. My Eudora pro and later thunderbird mailbox backups are probably full of his newsletters. I'm glad to see this finally take off.

bloopernova 4y ago
Eudora Pro. Wow, that's a blast from the past.

andylynch 4y ago

Interesting to see the NZ space industry growing. Though I did also wonder if Peter Jackson had taken an interest in the Me-163 for his collection.

hef19898 4y ago
I am fairly certain nobody in his right mind would want to fly this thing under its own power. As a glider, sure.
- imglorp 4y ago
  Yes especially considering the forced labor sometimes sabotaged them in subtle ways an overhaul might not reveal, and also considering the plane seems to have killed plenty in test and training. Oh and the toxic bipropellant you don't want to be around if there's a leak or explosion. This one is probably better restored on static display. https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196267/messerschmitt-me-163b-komet/ https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact...
  - hef19898 4y ago
    Some people built a replica, and flew it as a glider. Besides, a dual fuel, liquid rocket engine powered balsa-wood plane is such an unsafe design, it doesn't need a lot of sabotage to be a safety hazard.
  - cafard 4y ago
    Maximum powered endurance 7.5 minutes? Goodness.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

Gravityloss 4y ago

Wings and landing gear are quite heavy. But flying from airport to airport brings some operational flexibilities. It's good that someone's checking this approach. Starting from fast operations and low capability is an alternative to all the others that start from high capability but slow operations...