Scaled Composites Stratolaunch

Stratolaunch carrier aircraft
Role Space Launch Carrier
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Scaled Composites
Status In development

The Scaled Composites Model 351 (nicknamed the "Roc")[1] is being built for Stratolaunch Systems to provide a platform from which air-launch space missions can be staged.[2] With a wingspan of 117 m (385 ft), the design has the longest wingspan of any airplane to date (June 2017).[3]

In August 2015, Scaled Composites president Kevin Mickey stated that the company has so far assembled "roughly 200,000 pounds [91,000 kg] of composite structure" for the vehicle and if put on an American football field, "its wingtips would extend beyond the goalposts by 15 feet [4.6 m] on each side".[4]

Each of the twin fuselages of the aircraft is 73 m (238 ft) long and is supported by 12 main landing gear wheels and two nose gear wheels, for a total of 28 wheels. It will require 3,700 m (12,000 ft) of runway to lift-off.[1]

The air-launch altitude is planned for about 11,000 m (35,000 ft).[5] Payload is noted as in excess of 230,000 kg (500,000 lb).[6]

As of October 2016 "Orbital ATK will supply multiple Pegasus XL rockets for Stratolaunch to mount underneath the company’s huge carrier aircraft currently under construction in Mojave, California".[7]

The aircraft was rolled out on 31 May 2017.[8]

Development

The project was started nearly a year prior to the December 2011 public announcement, Dynetics began work in early 2011 and had approximately 40 employees working on the project at the time of the announcement, SpaceX efforts began only shortly prior to the public announcement.[9] The mothership is named by its Scaled model number: M351.[10]

The Stratolaunch Carrier Aircraft was built in a specially-constructed hangar in Mojave, California.[11] The first of two manufacturing buildings, a 88,000 square feet (8,200 m2) facility for construction of the composite sections of the wing and fuselage, was opened for production in October 2012.[12] By June 2016 Scaled Composites had 300 people working on the project.[13]

On May 31, 2017 the first Stratolaunch Carrier Aircraft was towed out of the Stratolaunch Mojave building to start ground testing. The plan is have the first launch in 2019.[14][15]

Design

The Model 351 has the longest wing span of any aircraft yet built, at 117 metres (385 ft). [16] It is of twin-fuselage configuration, similar to the Scaled Composites White Knight Two. The centre section of the high-mounted, high aspect ratio wing is fitted with a Mating and Integration System (MIS) capable of handling a 230,000 kg (500,000 lb) load and being developed by Dynetics. Each fuselage has its own tail with horizontal and vertical stabilizer, leaving a clear area behind the payload to reduce the risk of interference during flight. Three engines are positioned on pylons outboard of each fuselage. The cockpit is positioned within the starboard fuselage.[17]

The aircraft is powered by six 250 kN (56,000 lbf) Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines[18]

To cut development costs, many of the aircraft systems have been adopted from the Boeing 747-400, including the engines, avionics, flight deck, landing gear and other systems. Two former United Airlines Boeing 747-400 aircraft (Serial numbers 28715 & 28716) were acquired and taken to the Mojave Air & Space Port for cannibalization.[9][19]

The completed aircraft, ready for initial ground and fueling tests, was rolled out on May 31, 2017. [20][21]

Specifications (Stratolaunch Systems Carrier)

Wingspan comparison of the Stratolaunch carrier with other large airplanes

Data from Stratolaunch[22]

General characteristics

See also

Related development

Related lists

References

  1. 1 2 Silverstein, Jason (26 February 2015). "SEE IT: World’s largest plane under construction in Calif.". NY Daily News. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  2. ↑ "Stratolaunch and Orbital – The Height of Air Launch - NASASpaceFlight.com". www.nasaspaceflight.com.
  3. ↑ "World's biggest plane set for takeoff early next year".
  4. ↑ "Largest plane in the world to perform test flights in 2016". Engadget.
  5. ↑ "Why Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is building the world’s largest airplane". Washington Post.
  6. ↑ http://www.scaled.com/projects/stratolaunch
  7. ↑ Clark, Stephen. "Stratolaunch announces plan to fly with Pegasus rockets – Spaceflight Now". Spaceflight Now. Spaceflight Now Inc. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  8. ↑ http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a26715/stratolaunch-rolls-out-of-hangar/
  9. 1 2 Michael Mecham and Frank Morring, Jr. (Dec 19, 2011). "Allen Places Big Bet On Air Launches". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
  10. ↑ "Projects". Scaled composites.
  11. ↑ Messier, Doug (2012-10-05). "Space Goose’s Nest Grows in the Mojave". Parabolic Arc. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  12. ↑ Lindsay, Clark (2012-10-23). "Stratolaunch opens production facility at Mojave spaceport". NewSpace Watch. Retrieved 2012-10-27. (Subscription required (help)).
  13. ↑ Gates, Dominic (2016-06-28). "Paul Allen's giant plane takes shape in the desert, but its market is unclear". Phys.org. Retrieved 2016-06-29.
  14. ↑ Seattle Times, Paul Allen’s colossal Stratolaunch plane emerges from its lair, May 31, 2017
  15. ↑ Microsoft founder Paul Allen reveals world's biggest-ever plane, The Register, 1 Jun 2017
  16. ↑ http://stratolaunch.com/
  17. ↑ W.J. Hennigan (14 December 2011). "Paul Allen to build behemoth plane for space launches". The Los Angeles Times.
  18. ↑ Mecham, Michael (2011-12-14). "Stratolaunch Aims to Break Affordability Barrier". Aviation Week. New York. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
  19. ↑ "Scaled Composites Fleet Details and History". Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  20. ↑ "Stratolaunch rolls out giant aircraft - SpaceNews.com". 31 May 2017.
  21. ↑ [www.livescience.com/59324-largest-aircraft-stratolaunch-rolled-out.html Pappas, S. World's Largest (and Oddest-Looking) Aircraft Rolled Out for Tests. Live Science, May 31, 2017 06:32pm ET]
  22. ↑ "Stratolaunch".
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