After more than a decade in the making, Vulcan Aerospace has announced that the Stratolaunch – the world's largest aircraft – is ready for its first flight. The US aerospace company is led by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft. The goal is to make Stratolaunch a launch platform for rockets and satellites which, starting from an altitude of 10km, would not encounter any meteorological risk.
The dimensions of the aircraft are impressive: wingspan of 117 meters (almost double that of a Boeing 747), 230 tons without load (590 fully loaded), double fuselage, one for the crew – which will consist of three people – and the other for on-board computers. Stratolaunch moves on 28 wheels and uses six engines.
If the upcoming runway tests are successful, the aircraft is expected to make its maiden flight this summer. It will take at least another year, however, for the huge aircraft to be able to carry out launch operations.
Stratolaunch will then leave Mojave Air & Space Port, California, where it was built. Although the official announcement came in 2017, the works continued very slowly due to the caution with which one must proceed during the tests.
At the moment Stratolaunch has only completed laps on the track, without taking off. There are three scheduled speed tests: first 120 and then 220 km/h.
George Bugg, aeronautics program director at Stratolaunch, said: “This was another exciting milestone for our team and program. Our crew was able to demonstrate ground directional control with pinion steering and our braking systems were used successfully on the track.”
The development of the world's largest aircraft was possible thanks to the joint work of Scaled Composites, Space X – Elon Musk's company – and Dynetics. It should be fully operational in 2020.
Stratolaunch is similar in form and function to Scaled's aircraft built to carry spaceships into the air and release them by independent rockets beyond the atmosphere, a service Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic intends to offer passengers for a fee. Stratolaunch will offer fast and accurate satellite positioning that will set it apart from competitors.
