Some of the technology we can see in the science-fiction genre is fiction no more! The company that is founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen -- “Stratolaunch Systems” is making that possible! They are a division of Allen`s very own “Vulcan Aerospace”! This incredible Stratolaunch Plane that is being unveiled is about to send astronauts into the orbit using a mini shuttle! After the mini shuttle with the astronauts is in orbit, the Stratolaunch then comes back to the airfield to be used for another mission! The enormous Stratolaunch will be bigger than the Howard Hughes “Spruce Goose” and the Gigantic Antonov An-225 which is currently the world`s largest aircraft!
This world`s biggest Stratolaunch plane will have a gross weight of over 1.3 million pounds! And has an enormous wingspan of 385ft! Which is more than the length of a football field! It will use six 747 class engines to go to an altitude of 1,000 nautical miles! When it reaches that high altitude the mini shuttle (or in some cases satellites) will be dispatched from the Stratolaunch plane into the orbit! The satellites that this system will deliver into the orbit will weigh up to 13,500 lbs! The Stratolaunch plane has a top speed of 460 knots (530mph) and will place satellites into the orbit directly with great preciseness! No more weather related delays and launch range issues!
The Stratolaunch plane is 76 percent complete with the landing gear and the engines yet to be installed. But the plane is intended to be finished by the end of this year! And the first testing session to take place in 2018! The plane is expected to be used for commercial purposes before 2020! It will be launched from several sites across the country. One of those which are considered are Wallops Islands, the Kennedy Space Center and Vandenberg AFB!
Paul Allen is launching the new era of space industry with his “Stratolaunch Systems”!
If you`re interested, read more about Paul Allen by following this link!
