Talk-Polywell.org

The SPEARED (Single Person Emergency Atmospheric Re-Entry Device) concept Stephanie Osborne, Arlan Andrews, and I propose in the Dec 2014 Analog is intended for astronaut ejection seats capable of making it back from LEO, but could provide an inflatable heat shield for an entire craft.

Since the shuttlecock system is not intended for orbital re-entry, I'd suggest they look at SPEARED for SS3.

http://www.analogsf.com/2014_12/index.shtml

http://www.tomligon.com/ATE/Whitepapers ... D-data.pdf

The OSC launch accident may have been due to a turbopump failure.

The system I've seen described for these pumps sounds a little like the one on the Space Shuttle Main Engines. The pumps self-power ... you introduce some LOX to the fuel in the pumps. Sounds really spooky but we pulled it off for decades. But this is just preliminary, and the accident is, of course, ongoing.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/ ... R520141105

Tom Ligon wrote:

KitemanSA wrote: I was in the VIP stands when that happened. Total disappointment.

Trust me, there are worse feelings than watching a scrubbed launch.

I have no doubt since it was nothing like the news of Columbia.

This one says they plan to subcontract to another launch provider to fulfill their nasa contract:
http://m.space.com/27669-orbital-scienc ... gines.html

What kind of chance that they would consider choose SpaceX?

Well, they would save money doing that.