Google’s Sergey Brin isn’t the only billionaire taking up a lot of hangar space with an ambitious and massive aircraft construction project. For years, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has desired to make access to space more convenient and affordable, and from that the idea for Stratolaunch was born. On Wednesday, the world got its first look at the massive, 250-ton aircraft designed by Burt Rutan after it was rolled out of its hangar in Mojave, California, to begin fuel testing.
Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch Emerges from Hangar for Fueling Tests
Key Takeaways:
- Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's massive Stratolaunch aircraft, "The Roc," was rolled out for fuel testing in Mojave, California, as a key step in making space access more convenient and affordable.
- The 250-ton aircraft, boasting a 385-foot wingspan, is designed to air-launch Orbital ATK's Pegasus XL rockets carrying small satellites from an altitude of 35,000 feet.
- Following extensive ground and flightline testing, Stratolaunch aims to perform its first launch demonstration as early as 2019, with Allen advocating air-launching as a superior method for cost and possibilities over traditional or reusable rockets.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
