Posts by TipsyTigger

RAF pilot seconded to Virgin Orbit for three years of launching rockets from a 747

Re: It'll be interesting

But satellite technology is much smaller now, hence commercial small satellite launch is becoming a viable market. The launcher is under the wing, and is small enough that it's not a problem. Virgin Orbit are saying they will use half the fuel of a traditional vertical launch, which again cuts down on weight and therefore required thrust. They are pitching for a £10M per launch compared with older horizontal (Pegasus) launch costs of about £60M per launch.

Vertical launch is still the go-to for heavy lift, though (see Elon Musk).

Re: Cornwall?

The 747 won't be here that much - Virgin Orbit's plan is to have spaceports (runways) around the world so that they can deliver small satellites into any Low Earth Orbit the customer desires, so Cosmic Girl will be getting about a bit.

The maximum launches from Cornwall are predicted to be 8 a year, so not really a bother.

Re: Cornwall?

The problem is that when you horizontal launch you have to fly west of Ireland and point it at the North Pole (can't overfly too many countries on the way up).

If you're going to fly west of Ireland then Cornwall is not a bad place to start from.

Researcher hacks aircraft controls with Android smartphone

Re: If the Daily Mail cover this story...

Never mind the DM, how about the BBC?!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22107433

Rubbish IT means DEATH for UK Border Agency, announces May

Re: Ok here we go again

@Alfazed:

Don't confuse our political system with democracy, it isn't. It is a republic and a pretty poor one at that.

Reg readers scuffle over the ultimate cuppa

Physics or Chemistry?

@John Robson

In the words of Rutherford: all science is Physics, the rest is merely stamp collecting.

Liquefied-air silos touted as enormo green 'leccy batteries

Re: @ Long Fei

Come now, the tech to provide permanent sunlight to a specific point on the Earth via space-based mirrors is readily available. But we don't actually need to do it right now so why pay? Clouds and lack of wind on the other hand are still a work in progress.

Ten... PC games you may have missed

Re: JA2 : Back in Action?

I avoided JA:BiA initially due to the serious lack of thought in inventory management. However, I understand that patches have addressed that issue so I have just bought it. Not sure where they get the price tag of £40 from, though, it was in the Steam sale yesterday for £7.50 - which is why I bought it! Might still be on offer if anyone is interested...