Indian Space Plane

[Eric Mc]

Seems like the subsonic hypersonic test conducted this morning went well.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/05/india-laun...

[Simpo Two]

See, if you don't spend any money on sewers, benefits or immigrants you have loads left for space exploration!

[Eric Mc]

I didn't particularly want the thread to be a discussion on the merits or otherwise of Indian government expenditure priorities, to be honest.

[Toilet Duck]

When I read the title I couldn't help thinking of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j52BCKfibeA

[Eric Mc]

Rather condescending and insulting - don't you think?

[tuffer]

Eric Mc said:

Rather condescending and insulting - don't you think?

I find it condescending and insulting that India is able to spend money on a space program whilst millions of its citizens live in absolute squalor and we are stupid enough to keep giving them handouts.

[Eric Mc]

Close topic please. Obviously nobody is interested in discussing the technical aspects of this mission. I'm sorry I pointed it out.

[Toilet Duck]

Eric Mc said:

Rather condescending and insulting - don't you think?

Nope, not one iota.

[Eric Mc]

Toilet Duck said:

Eric Mc said:

Rather condescending and insulting - don't you think?

Nope, not one iota.

So you are equating a silly (but possibly fun) stunt by a bunch of amateurs with a properly organised research experiment conducted at a high level of sophistication?

Would you have made the same comments if the test was carried out by the major space agencies of the US, Europe, Japan or Russia?

The fact that you or no one else has in the past when similar tests were carried out seems to indicate to me that you are placing the Indian test on a different level.

Why?

[Toilet Duck]

Eric Mc said:

Would you have made the same comments if the test was carried out by the major space agencies of the US, Europe, Japan or Russia?

The fact that you or no one else has in the past when similar tests were carried out seems to indicate to me that you are placing the Indian test on a different level.

Why?

Nope I wouldn't have made the same comment because US, Europe, Japan and Russia are "developed" and don't have millions upon millions of their citizens leaving in slums and absolute squalor with no sanitation systems or running water, never mind electricity etc. But hey, what does that matter when they have a Space Plane to be proud of! Thank god for all that Foreign Aid India receives!

P.S. If you don't find the YouTube clip funny then you lack a sense of humour.

[Simpo Two]

Eric Mc said:

Rather condescending and insulting - don't you think?

It's better than anything we have! But the particulate emissions do seem high by our standards, and the attention to H&S is shocking.

[FunkyNige]

Eric Mc said:

Close topic please. Obviously nobody is interested in discussing the technical aspects of this mission. I'm sorry I pointed it out.

You need to hit 'report', mods don't read all the posts.

[Eric Mc]

Toilet Duck said:

Nope I wouldn't have made the same comment because US, Europe, Japan and Russia are "developed" and don't have millions upon millions of their citizens leaving in slums and absolute squalor with no sanitation systems or running water, never mind electricity etc. But hey, what does that matter when they have a Space Plane to be proud of! Thank god for all that Foreign Aid India receives!

P.S. If you don't find the YouTube clip funny then you lack a sense of humour.

Well, sadly I thought that by posting the news in the "Science" forum I would avoid the accusatory nonsense that goes on elsewhere on PH. Clearly, I was wrong.

PH is rapidly becoming a nasty, nasty place full of small minded people.

I'm rapidly becoming very disenchanted with the place.

[tuffer]

Eric Mc said:

Well, sadly I thought that by posting the news in the "Science" forum I would avoid the accusatory nonsense that goes on elsewhere on PH. Clearly, I was wrong.

PH is rapidly becoming a nasty, nasty place full of small minded people.

I'm rapidly becoming very disenchanted with the place.

Its actually just an internet forum where people can express their opinions, it does not matter which forum you choose. My comment was in no way intended to be nasty towards you or anyone else Eric, it was just my opinion on your post and the fact that India have a space program of sorts. Having visited the Country many times I think I have enough insight to be able to comment on the matter.

[Eric Mc]

Fair enough.

Sadly, no one seems interested enough to ask about how they did this, what the craft was like and how well it worked. They'd prefer to have a pop at the country instead.

Sad.

[tuffer]

Eric Mc said:

Fair enough.

Sadly, no one seems interested enough to ask about how they did this, what the craft was like and how well it worked. They'd prefer to have a pop at the country instead.

Sad.

Well its not exactly rocket science is it..........Badoom tish

[Leithen]

So this is similar to the X-37?

[Eric Mc]

Aha - a more reasonable comment. It certainly does seem to share some attributes.


However, the purpose of this flight was to check for aerodynamic controllability at hypersonic speeds (over Mach 6) so I don't know at this stage what type of thermal protection system was fitted - if any.

[robbieduncan]

Eric Mc said:

Aha - a more reasonable comment. It certainly does seem to share some attributes.


However, the purpose of this flight was to check for aerodynamic controllability at hypersonic speeds (over Mach 6) so I don't know at this stage what type of thermal protection system was fitted - if any.

http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/05/indias-shuttle-like-reusable-spaceplane-makes-its-first-test-flight/

"Indian officials said the vehicle's first test flight successfully demonstrated technologies such as autonomous navigation, guidance and control, as well as a reusable thermal protection system"

So it must have had some sort of thermal protection system fitted.

It doesn't look particularly large. Clearly not designed for human space flight. Which is fine. But unless that's a scale model is it even large enough to launch a reasonable satellite?

[Leithen]

I hadn't realised that the most recent X-37, launched in May 2015, is still up there....

What is it doing?