ESA IXV to orbit & back

Started by [email protected], 02/11/2015 06:29PM
Posted 02/11/2015 06:29PM | Edited 02/11/2015 06:57PM Opening Post
IXV looking good! smile Pano photo from Park Ave in Worcester, MA birthplace of Robert H. Goddard... in city for training today smile

"The target trajectory for separation of the Intermediate Experimental Vehicle was a perigee of 76 kilometres (47.2 miles, 41.0 nautical miles) and an apogee of 416 kilometres (258 miles, 225 nautical miles) at an inclination of 5.4 degrees."

"While this could technically be termed an orbit, since the perigee of the trajectory lies above the surface of the Earth, it intersects the atmosphere such that the IXV will reenter before completing its first revolution."

"Such a transatmospheric orbit is generally considered to be a suborbital, rather than orbital, mission."

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/02/europes-vega-rocket-debut-ixv-spaceplane/

Attached Image:

brucesdad13@gmail.com's attachment for post 59098

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