Blue Origin has made significant strides forward in its development of a proposed next-generation Space shuttle.
Blue what now? Well, you’re excused for not knowing (the company tends to shun publicity), but Blue Origin is the rocket venture backed by Amazon.com squillionaire Jeff Bezos. It’s also one of four private companies set to receive a $320 million wedge from NASA to develop technologies for commercial space crew transports. Yep, commercial space flights. We’re going to the Moooon, kids!
Anyway, Blue Origin has released a color-coded image that depicts an analysis of computational fluid dynamics for its Space Vehicle.
In plain English, said vehicle has been rigorously tested in wind tunnels, and the results suggest the design stage is complete – the company’s craft will fly you into space without breaking apart at the seams. Now they just need to construct the thing. A Blue Origin press statement read:
“Blue Origin successfully tested the design of its next-generation Space Vehicle, completing a series of wind tunnel tests to refine the aerodynamic characteristics of the spacecraft’s unique biconic shape. The tests were carried out as part of Blue Origin’s partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under the agency’s Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program. Blue Origin is designing the Space Vehicle to provide safe, affordable transport of up to seven astronauts to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station.”
So space tourism: will you be lining up for an early ticket to the galaxy, or does the idea of leaving Earth’s cuddly atmosphere for a quick orbit fall outside your comfort zone?
