Stratolaunch carrier aircraft rolled out

Stratolaunch Image Space transportation venture Stratolaunch Systems, founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen, has rolled out the...

Stratolaunch Image

Space transportation venture Stratolaunch Systems, founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen, has rolled out the Stratolaunch carrier aircraft designed to launch rockets to low earth orbits (LEO).

The aircraft was moved out of the hangar to conduct aircraft fueling tests, marking the completion of the initial aircraft construction phase and the beginning of the aircraft ground and flight testing phase.

Like the Virgin Galactic's WhiteKnight Two carrier aircraft, the Stratolaunch is designed to launch rockets into orbit from an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,100 meters).

Stratolaunch concept of operation

Built by Scaled Composites at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, California, it is the largest aircraft by wingspan at 385 feet (117 m) and is also the largest all-composite aircraft ever built.

The twin fuselage aircraft is 238 feet (72 m) long and have a tail height of 50 feet (15 m). While the right fuselage house the flight crew, the left fuselage carry the flight data equipment.

Powered by six ex-Boeing 747 Pratt & Whitney PW 4056 high bypass turbofan engines, with thrust ranging between 231–276 kN (52,000 lbf – 62,000 lbf) each, the Stratolaunch will be able to carry up to 550,000 pounds of payload including the rocket and its payload.

The payload capacity matches that of Antonov's An-225, world' largest fixed wing aircraft famous for airlifting out sized cargoes.

The payload is hung from the reinforced center wing, that connects the two fuselage. The Mating Integration System (MIS) developed Dynetics will be able to hold up to three Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rockets.

Stratolaunch Image

Unlike expended vertical launched rockets operational currently, the Stratolaunch system is reusable and hence low cost, and will also significantly reduce the long wait times for satellite launches.

With “weight-on-wheels”, the aircraft now weights approximately 500,000 lbs and will have a maximum take off weight of 1,300,000 lb. The aircraft will have an operational range of approximately 2,000 nautical miles.

To reduce developmental cost and time, the engines, avionics, flight deck, landing gear and other systems were sourced from two used Boeing 747-400s.

Aiming for a maiden flight later this year, Stratolaunch plans to perform first launch demonstration as early as 2019.