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 Stratolaunch project unveiled "The Roc," the world's largest aircraft with a 385-foot wingspan, designed to air-launch rockets carrying small satellites.
- The massive 250-ton aircraft, powered by six Boeing 747 engines, aims to provide more convenient and affordable access to space through an "airport-style operations" approach.
- After its recent rollout for initial fuel testing, the aircraft will undergo extensive ground and flightline testing at the Mojave Air and Space Port, with the first launch demonstration targeted for as early as 2019.
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