credit Reaction Engines / caption: Skylon technology development has gained private financing
Hyperbola interviewed Skylon single stage to orbit (SSTO) designer Reaction Engines managing director Alan Bond on 22 May 2009 at the company's offices at the Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire, England
In the 9min interview hear Bond talk about the award the company won from British National Space Centre and the European Space Agency (ESA), the company's private financing success, the European Union funded LAPCAT programme and more
The LAPCAT programme is about hypersonic transport research and it is managed by ESA. The space agency has contracted Bond's company to work on both its first and second phases
As well as this engine technology the company has also been evolving new nozzle technologies to enhance its single stage to orbit concept's performance
The interview was the same day this blog spoke to UK government minister of state for science and innovation Lord Paul Drayson of Kensington
Go through to the extended portion of this blog post to watch the video. I boosted the audio volume in Windows Movie Maker to maximum so there is some noise on the soundtrack but it should be easy to hear with your sound turned up to maximum
on May 26, 2009 5:12 AM | Reply
Subsonic thrombosis :) I hope these technologies become real much earlier than the 20 year horizon associated with LAPCAT as he mentions. I would love to know the theory behind the curvature to that engine. I'm guessing it is a means to get increased air pressurization for the engine when at speed.
on May 27, 2009 8:30 PM | Reply
It's hardware time methinks. If HMG and commercial supporters don't do their part, then it's the scrapheap for another brilliant British invention: hopefully not to be taken up and run with by other nations as in the past. However, as Crix points out they'd better not take too long in development or funds will run out and...Fingers X'd!!!
on May 28, 2009 11:22 AM | Reply
In these matters it is much easier to give up hope. Do you honestly think Britain will have a Skylon flying within twenty years? For your own sake, get real. Remember Miles M.52, Blue Streak and Hotol. Why should it be any different now?
on May 28, 2009 4:25 PM | Reply
Why a curved nacelle? The front points sight down so the intake is square into the airflow when the vehicle is flying supersonically with a angle of attack. The back points down so the rocket nozzles point through the centre of mass for control when outside the atmosphere.
Easier to give up hope? Yes, Britain has more than its fair share of massive opportunities missed because of very dumb decisions by both government and industry. However despite this we have the second biggest aerospace industry in the world (only the USA is bigger) and we do sometimes get it right. So, while staying "real", there is hope that Skylon maybe one of those times, and if we don't try then it will not get built for certain.