Project ThunderStruck.
Our Mach 1.5 Glider will Open the Door to Sending Payloads Cheaply to Space.
We are building spacecraft to make that possible we need to conduct test flights. The first flight is a supersonic glider that is set to break the sound barrier and coincidentally, world records. This is not a spacecraft, but essential for the next phase. We are also launching it from nearly half way to space. The craft is designed to easily break the sound barrier for supersonic and transonic tests and is expected to reach Mach 1.5 or nearly 2,000kph / 1,250mph. That is fast and designed to capture the world's imagination. It is also to prove the reliability of our systems our remote control pilot will be an accomplished 13 year old who will be firmly on the ground. If he gets into difficulties, The craft will take over and automatically land itself.
The glider will be flown in Australia later in the year and you can be in the virtual cockpit during the record breaking flight, seeing what the pilot is seeing. Be there as we topple world records and test our systems ready for building our spacecraft - a winged re-entry vehicle. All of this takes time and money, but the money is small and the time is now.
Hi, I am Robert Brand and I have worked in space communications and space industry for most of my life and as an aerospace engineer for the last few years. I worked on Apollo 11 communications, Voyager encounters for NASA and ESA's Giotto mission to Halleys comet. I have an award for Shuttle STS-1 support that was personally given to me by Commander John Young.
We have a great team behind the project and there is one member that you really need to meet. He is the Mach 1.5 remote control glider pilot: Jason Brand. He is 13 years old and will fly the fastest small craft privately built and he has done much of the design work! He will even create a sonic boom! Why a 13 year old pilot? Because we are building the X-2A systems to be very responsive. We know that even a 13 year old will be able to control and fly the craft. It is a demonstration in its own right. It is also a testimony to STEM education.
Above: Jason's appearance on Australia's Sunrise TV program.
Please check out our full team in the team info tab as they are the key to our success. Despite the fact that Jason has the final say on design, the team offers suggestions, does a lot of the higher level maths (thanks Todd) and finds the problems in the design and mission profile so that we eliminate failures points. Many of us have been working on earlier space mission projects. We have the skill set to ensure success.
Robert, Jason and many in the team also launch high altitude weather balloons. They release them, track them and recover the scientific payloads. Robert & Jason have conducted 23 flights and recovered all 23 payloads with a world record of 100% recovery.. These flights often make it to 33.3km altitude. That is 1/3 the way to space. We plan on using that experience to carry out test, much the same as NASA used the X craft to test and create the space shuttle.
We can't afford massive aircraft like a B-52 to get us to altitude and we can't afford to build craft like the X-15, but we don't have to nor do we want to. We can achieve supersonic flights for under $20,000 once we are set up and we can even get a payload to space for under $60,000 (sounding flight). We are expecting that to be our second flight. Of course setting up for the first flight and refining the subsequent systems is more expensive and that is why we are flying our craft that we have code named the X-2A.
How can we Help Each Other?
We need to raise
A$80,000, but you also get the
Rewards
Here are some of the big items we need:
- 2 x Zero pressure balloons A$40,000 (half the budget)
- 2 x GPS capable of greater than Mach 1.5 A$20,000
- 2 x Radar transponders A$10,000
- The rest: Helium A$2,000; travel A$3,000; Airframe A$2,000; Civil Aviation Safety Authority Fees A$1,000 and more.
There is a lot more that we need and we are hoping that your generosity will raise more than the A$80,000. The Perks that we have organised will be great and some items may one day become valuable as we will grow to become an important player in the space sector. Check out the rewards in our Perks section!
When we set up a space company based on these flights, your name will be displayed on an entrance wall as a contributor to the success of the X-2A flight.
What will we achieve?
Although the funding is for the first flight that is essential for the next stage - the flight to space, you will be directly contributing to designing spacecraft. Along with the balloon, stage 2 we expect will be a sounding rocket flight above 100km - the internationally recognised start of space.
- This will cut costs to micro gravity experiments, especially those needed in the manufacture of important medicines and new science experiments.
- It will also show the importance of STEM education.
The ThunderStruck spacecraft that results from this will be very different. For those that understand flight/space. the wings will have dihedral and lift. The X-2A has neither. The spacecraft, when used as a sounding craft launched from a balloon will have a rocket in its tail. It will also have a lifting body and cold gas thrusters to keep it controllable in space. The sounding craft version will only need minor heat shielding and its design will make it reusable.
This Video will Help Explain the X-2A Project
We recently were on the Australian Channel 7 Sunrise Program with a 5 minute interview. There are a few errors, but it will explain a lot. Remember, the launch is Sept 2015 and we are not building a manned craft. We see the niche business as one of building a space courier business. We take it up or bring it back! Enjoy the interview with these things in mind.
CLICK HERE to watch this amazing 5 minute video as seen on Television
Note that the date in the video was meant to say "September" for our launch. We are also talking about a space courier operation - not manned flight.
Note that the video shows our starting model. The X-1. We started with a chunky, small winged craft and allowed the maths and science to create the ever so sleek X-2A. The "A" is because we did a few tweaks after publishing the design of the X-2 version.
Desktop Testing
The world understands flight dynamics better than ever and the world creates aircraft using desktop testing. So do we. Want to see a small video of one test. It scans the vehicle as a single moment in time and shows the pressure waves. In fact it was this video that caused us to "tweak" the X-2 design. We noticed some pressure waves bouncing off the winglets.
We also tapered the rear end of the craft to lower Base Drag. More on that in our updates.
Do We Have What it Takes?
The answer is YES for many more reasons than the few below, but these points address the biggest hurdles:
- As mentioned earlier we have an enviable track record in balloon flights to the stratosphere and experience in building aircraft and flying them remotely.
- Robert Brand has been a glider pilot and worked in support of many space programs.
- Robert also has the a huge communications background, including communications with spacecraft.
- Robert and Jason both have Amateur Radio certificates and Robert works with Extreme Radio systems in challenging environments.
- Our Sponsors and Supporters think that we have the "Right Stuff": Australia's Defense Scientific and Research Organisation and the enormous support of Hobbyking are two of the reasons that make this a reality.
Risks & Challenges
The risk is simple. If we fail on our first attempt. We have factored that into the budget and will simply correct the problem and fly again. The 3.5m / 11.5ft craft will be also tested as a small model with a ducted fan for propulsion. It will be flown to 120m / 400ft and allowed to glide for testing. It will then be flown back for more tests.
- We have designed the craft using desk top modelling and our own spreadsheets, developed for this unusual flight. The refinements show us the lowest drag and pressure differentials making for a great design that simply feels right!
- We have eliminated the chance of it pulling out of the dive by removing the lift form the wings and making the craft symmetrical in any cross-section nose to tail.
- We have a great support team and we are collecting a huge amount of data from sensors on the craft. That will be sent to the ground in real time and recorded and also recorded on board in our own "Black Box". The system will allow us to refine the design and overcome any problems
Other Ways You Can Help
We would ask that you contribute anything from $1 to whatever you can afford to create a huge opportunity for new competition in the space sector; a 13 year old to create a "sonic boom"; and to make world records tumble, opening new doors for student and youth that believe that they can make a difference. If you can't space a dollar, please do one or both of the following
- Get the word out and make some noise about Project ThunderStruck.
- Remember that you can use the Indiegogo share tools!
Thanks for taking the first part of the journey to space with us. Please consider supporting us as this is a wild ride driven by imagination, innovation and the right people.