USC: VTOL Program

[diogom]

With the safe touchdown of VTOL Test #4, the final test program of the DG's quest to achieve space-worthiness, the VTOL Program ended.

The following are the flight reports of the four Vertical Take Off and Landing tests.

The first test was meant to test the VTOL engines, and see how well the Delta Glider could hover.
VTOL Test #1

VTOL Test #1 took place on Thursday, July 14th at 6:30 P.M. EST. At 6:32 P.M, the Hover engines were gradually throttled up to 70%.At 6:34 P.M. The main Engines were gradually throttled up to 40% and the DG Columbia began her journey to the end of Runway 33.At 6:35 P.M. Columbia was halfway down the runway. At 6:36 P.M. main thrust was reduced to zero.At 6:37 P.M, Columbia reduced its hover engine thrust gradually to 0%, thus concluding the first VTOL test of the DG program.

-Ky

The second test was meant to do the same thing, except climbing to a higher altitude.
VTOL Test #2

Columbia successfully lifted-off at 6:30PM on the second test flight of the VTOL Program. Test took place at Kennedy Space Center. After ignition, a test of the Glider's hover autopilot followed. Columbia climbed to 250ft (~70m), and held that altitude for a while, to test the autopilots ability to hold altitude. It then initiated a slow descent back to the ground, with a smooth touchdown at 6:47PM.

-Diogo

The third Vertical Take Off and Landing Test was meant to test out the ability to vertically take off and begin vertical flight and land horizontally afterwards.
VTOL Test #3

At 6:30:00 PM EST Columbia Vertically took off from KSC Runway 033, ascending to an altitude of 50 meters. After holding position for 10 seconds, Columbia engaged thrust, starting a climb to 4500, turning 090 degrees and keeping a constant speed of 250 meters per second. After crusing at that altitude for one minute, Columbia changed course to 160 to turn back to Kennedy Space Center. At 1000 meters, speed was slowed to 200 meters per second. At 500 meters on the final approach phase, gear was lowered. At 6:43:36 PM EST, Columbia made contact with the ground concluding the third Vertical Take Off and Landing Test in the program.

Fuel consumption was in the nominal range with an average consumption of 0.30 kilograms per second, not far from the fuel consumption of the Powered Flight Test program's cruising flights. All autopilots worked well and atmospheric surfaces responded to all inputs correctly.

Overall, the mission was a total success, the agency is a go for VTOL Test #4.

-Eli

The final test, VTOL Test #4 was very similar to VTOL Test #3, but landed vertically instead of the conventional horizontal method.
VTOL Test #4

At 6:30:00 PM EST Columbia Vertically took off from KSC Runway 033, ascending to an altitude of 50 meters. After holding position for 15 seconds, Columbia engaged thrust, starting a climb to 4500, keeping a constant speed of 250 meters per second. After crusing at that altitude for one minute, Columbia changed course to turn back to Kennedy Space Center. At 1000 meters, speed was slowed to 200 meters per second. At 500 meters on the final approach phase, gear was lowered. Columbia's VTOL engines were then engaged, to maintain the altitude, while its retro-engines slowed down the spacecraft. When Columbia's speed was at 0m/s, above the runway, the Glider started a slow descent to the ground. At 6:51:22 PM EST, Columbia made contact with the ground, concluding the fourth Vertical Take Off and Landing Test in the program.

Fuel consumption was in the nominal range with an average consumption of 0.35 kilograms per second, not far from the fuel consumption of the Powered Flight Test program's cruising flights. All autopilots worked well and atmospheric surfaces responded to all inputs correctly.

Overall, the mission was a total success.
-Diogo

The Delta-Glider has been fully tested and is now ready to fly the first LEO mission of the Delta Glider's career. GTS-1 (GTS meaning Glider Transportation System) will fly on July 25th, at 8:30 AM EST and will be flown by Ky. It will launch 90 degrees East from Kennedy Space Center to reach an Orbital Inclination of 28 degrees to the equator. It will reach a circular orbit or a near circular orbit with a planned orbital altitude of 250 Kilometers at apoapsis and 250 Kilometers at periapsis. It will orbit the Earth 40 times and re-enter and land at Kennedy Space Center. It will carry no payload. All data will be recorded with on board instruments.

As it turns out, Ky had more problems than previously expected, so his backups took his place for VTOL Tests #3 and #4. I was supposed to fly VTOL Test #2 anyways.

Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in this program.

Remember to check in for updates, pictures and flight reports on our site which you can visit at http://unionspacecommand.webs.com/

Also, be sure to check in on our ongoing expedition at the ISS, Expediton 56, which you can follow at this blog: http://www.orbiter-forum.com/blog.php?b=808

Pictures can be made available upon request. (Some mission pictures have been removed from the site in order to make way for new mission photos) PM Eli13 for more details.

 

[communist]

very nice to hear this news,may i put this in the next yearly report if i get reelelected

 

[Eli13]

I'm glad to hear that you like it, but, what are you talking about?

 

[communist]

I'm glad to hear that you like it, but, what are you talking about?

we compile a yearly report on VSA's,we want this story to be there

 

[Eli13]

OK then, I don't see why not. As long as you don't deviate from anything said here.

But who is 'we'?