Richard Branson reaches space.

[xdman]

Branson beat Bazos and Musk, and while it was the edge of space, imagine what was learned for the next flights. Almost reminds me of the original space race.

Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson reaches space in test flight, part of furious space tourism race

Richard Branson reached space on a test flight for Virgin Galactic before gliding back to earth and touching down safely Sunday, the latest salvo in the burgeoning space tourism business led by high-profile billionaires.

www.foxbusiness.com

 

[Annihilator]

Beat them both……….

 

[Talyn]

Branson didn't make it according to this scientific perspective.

The Kármán line as the altitude of 100 kilometres (54 nautical miles; 62 miles; 330,000 feet) above Earth's mean sea level.

The Kármán line is named after Theodore von Karman (1881–1963), a Hungarian-American enginneer and physicist who was active in aeronatics and astronautics. He was the first person to determine the altitude at which the atmosphere becomes too thin to support aeronautical flight. A vehicle above this altitude would not be able to use aerodynamic lift to support itself. This is also close to the upper boundary of mezosphere which is estimated to end at about 80-90 km.

According to Andrew Haley, the 100 km line is an effect of agreement between U.S. and Soviet Union delegates of FAI. Coincidently 100 km is also approximately an altitude of turbopause, below which atmospheric gases (oxygen, nitrogen etc) are well-mixed and above 100km heavier molecules tend to occupy lower parts of atmosphere due to gravitational separation.

The SpaceShipTwo made it to 282,000 feet, and uses it's swiveling wing surfaces for control at the apogee vs a reaction control system that is needed since there is no aerodynamic lift.

 

[Keystone19250]

View attachment 18950
Beat them both……….

It’s undeniable Marvin came from space but more likely the space between your ears.

 

[Keystone19250]

Branson didn't make it according to this scientific perspective.

The Kármán line as the altitude of 100 kilometres (54 nautical miles; 62 miles; 330,000 feet) above Earth's mean sea level.

The Kármán line is named after Theodore von Karman (1881–1963), a Hungarian-American enginneer and physicist who was active in aeronatics and astronautics. He was the first person to determine the altitude at which the atmosphere becomes too thin to support aeronautical flight. A vehicle above this altitude would not be able to use aerodynamic lift to support itself. This is also close to the upper boundary of mezosphere which is estimated to end at about 80-90 km.

According to Andrew Haley, the 100 km line is an effect of agreement between U.S. and Soviet Union delegates of FAI. Coincidently 100 km is also approximately an altitude of turbopause, below which atmospheric gases (oxygen, nitrogen etc) are well-mixed and above 100km heavier molecules tend to occupy lower parts of atmosphere due to gravitational separation.

The SpaceShipTwo made it to 282,000 feet, and uses it's swiveling wing surfaces for control at the apogee vs a reaction control system that is needed since there is no aerodynamic lift.

You make a good point however this achievement is still remarkable on many levels including it was done by a private citizen albeit a very wealthy one.
Let’s face reality space travel is in the near future for everyone especially the wealthy.

 

[KillerFord1977]

…Branson to NASA : “hold my beer”
… Branson to IRS: “ thats one hell of a write off deduction. Tell NASA their welcome”

 

[Bassbob]

He didn't technically make it to space. And you would think in all the news coverage someone would point that out. Instead all the TV talking heads keep saying he made it to space.

Nevertheless they were floating around in that thing in seriously diminished gravity and it is still awesome.