Glider on edge (?) of space

[RainDreamer]

http://gizmodo.com/this-science-plane-will-soar-to-the-edge-of-space-on-gi-1731734160

Question mark in title because "edge of space" definition is often debated on this forum.

Apparently Airbus is sponsoring this project to create a glider that can glide on "stratospheric mountain waves" to reach attitudes of 90000 ft (or about 27km). It seems to require a jet to tow it up, but then it seems like it can glide for a pretty long time up there. They are planning a test run soon, at 5000 ft (~1.5km) and for 45 minutes.

[Armchair Rocket Scientist]

http://gizmodo.com/this-science-plane-will-soar-to-the-edge-of-space-on-gi-1731734160

Question mark in title because "edge of space" definition is often debated on this forum.

Apparently Airbus is sponsoring this project to create a glider that can glide on "stratospheric mountain waves" to reach attitudes of 90000 ft (or about 27km). It seems to require a jet to tow it up, but then it seems like it can glide for a pretty long time up there. They are planning a test run soon, at 5000 ft (~1.5km) and for 45 minutes.

I'm not sure what sort of data this vehicle could obtain that couldn't be obtained with an unmanned vehicle like NASA's old Helios program, aside from "can we get a manned glider to 90,000 feet?"

Also, I found this in the comments in response to the "why can't we launch stuff to orbit this way" question that someone posts in every thread about upper-atmospheric flight:

I would suggest you play Kerbal for a few hours to answer your own question. It’s not just a question of altitude but VELOCITY.

[AngelLestat]

I guess this is what PakledHostage one time mention about the try to break the altitude record in the patagonia with a glider.

[Pixel of Life]

I'm not sure what sort of data this vehicle could obtain that couldn't be obtained with an unmanned vehicle like NASA's old Helios program, aside from "can we get a manned glider to 90,000 feet?"

Because gliding is a ridiculously efficient and cheap way to fly. Modern gliders can easily achieve ranges of over 2000 kilometers with a single launch, and you only have to pay a few dozen bucks for an aerotow or a winch launch and that's it. Do the same trip in an average single engine piston prop airplane (Cessna 152, 172 etc) and it'll probably end up costing more than $250.

[RainDreamer]

I guess this is what PakledHostage one time mention about the try to break the altitude record in the patagonia with a glider.

Well, the same project, which was funded and flew by Steve Fossett, and manage to set the glider altitude record of 50,671 ft in 2006. They could have gone higher at that time, but the glider cabin was not pressurized and so they have to descend. This new project intended to have a pressurized cabin in the glider, but the funding was cut short due to Fossett's death in 2007. It is until Airbus fund it again in 2014 that they can return to working on the new glider and have it for testing in 2015.

[Armchair Rocket Scientist]

Because gliding is a ridiculously efficient and cheap way to fly. Modern gliders can easily achieve ranges of over 2000 kilometers with a single launch, and you only have to pay a few dozen bucks for an aerotow or a winch launch and that's it. Do the same trip in an average single engine piston prop airplane (Cessna 152, 172 etc) and it'll probably end up costing more than $250.

My point is that an unmanned glider could just as easily reach the same altitudes and ranges carrying the same instrument package, and probably be less expensive. Not to mention that a solar-electric UAV could potentially maintain stratospheric altitudes for weeks or months at a time, while a manned glider would probably have less endurance than a zero-pressure balloon (although with more cross-range control).

[benzman]

The glider altitude record is already at the maximum that a crew can survive without either a pressurised cabin or a full pressure suit, both a bit problematic in a glider. Gliders, with their long wings and low wing loading are quite happy at altitude. The previous record of 49,000 feet was set in a normal club-type glider with a 15 metre wingspan. I have been in a Piper warrior at 10,000 feet and it wallowed around very unhappily. I have been to 14,600 feet in a 15 metre wingspan glider and it felt no different to being at sea level. As an old glider pilot, the most interesting part of the article was the claim that mountain waves can penetrate the stratosphere. If this turns out to be true, then we have to rethink our definition of the stratosphere, which is a level of the atmosphere without vertical transport. i.e. only horizontal movements. I must say that the article just made me think of Boys playing with Toys!

[lajoswinkler]

It's the media. Sensationalism is what powers it these days. 27 km has never been the edge of space.

[AngelLestat]

It's the media. Sensationalism is what powers it these days. 27 km has never been the edge of space.

Yeah it is, there is almost not atmosphere at that altitude.

I think is more accurate to call that the edge of space than 300km.

The difference in pressure between 27 km and 300km is very low.

If we are talking of orbit or zero G, then we are talking of speed with almost zero friction, but I guess space is that place where our atmosphere does not protect us anymore.

[lajoswinkler]

There is a lot of atmosphere at 27 km because the pressure is 1-2% of sea level pressure. It is impossible to orbit at those heights.