On Fri, Apr 15, 2016 at 5:24 PM, George Herbert <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:

SS2 is not capable of reentry from orbit. Not capable of handling the heat loads.

Nor does it have orbital maneuvering, life support, systems, long endurance electrical power...

It seems that Virgin Galactic was initially going to produce Spaceplane *3* as an actual orbiter (at least according to the wiki article). But then they scaled those plans back to another suborbital vehicle, although one that will be a true transport (rather than a simple thrill ride).

Perhaps the recent successes of Space X will inspire them to reevaluate once more?

Richard Aiken

"Never insult anyone by accident." Robert A. Heinlein

"I studied the Koran a great deal. I came away from that study with the conviction there have been few religions in the world as deadly to men as Muhammed." Alexis de Tocqueville (1843)

"We know a little about a lot of things; just enough to make us dangerous." Dean Winchester

"It has been my experience that a gun doesn't care who pulls its trigger." Newton Knight (as portrayed by Matthew McConaughey), to a scoffing Confederate tax collector facing the weapons held by Knight's young children and wife.