Wind tunnel tests have led to some tweaks in XCOR’s Lynx vehicle. Here’s what it looked like before:
XCOR's Lynx suborbital vehicle
And here’s the latest iteration:
As you can see, the nose is a bit rounder. And there is also an optional payload shroud on top of fuselage which will be used to launch small satellites into orbit.
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The winglets are different too.
As is the aft engine arrangement. It’s gone from 2 (or 4) to 1.
Nice refinements. And I’m not just saying that because the new one is easier to render in LEGO. (My attempt from this weekend: http://twitpic.com/44ioce )
The payload shroud looks promising, but I can’t help but think how frightening it would be to watch a rocket launch a few inches away from that really big window…
Also, but not noticeable in these artists sketches, are an apparent addition of a generous radius in the fin-wing intersection and what seems to be an increased ramp section forward of the cockpit [easily seen in the recently released wind tunnel picture].