Important Innovations

  Stratolaunch's Roc Carries a Hypersonic Vehicle to 23,000 Feet                                                  Source:  Stratolaunch Major Moves Toward Hypersonic Commercial Flying at Mach 6 The world's largest airplane, California-based Stratolaunch's Roc, with a wingspan longer than a football field, just aced a major test flight while carrying a hypersonic prototype plane.  The success is important on a number of levels.  It moves Stratolaunch, whose mission is to launch small, autonomous, rocket powered hypersonic vehicles from altitudes of 35,000 feet, closer to test flying its Talon A hypersonic vehicle.  And it moves the world closer to hypersonic flying at speeds of Mach 6 and more.  This will eventually include commercial passenger planes traveling at six times the speed of sound or 4,570 mph.  Tha...

World's Largest Plane Successfully Tested in 2 Hour Flight Source:  Stratolaunch Systems Designed for Lucrative Commercial Space Launch Market The world's largest plane is the creation of Stratolaunch Systems, the company started by the late co-founder of Microsoft Paul Allen.  The test flight this weekend of Roc, the world's largest plane, was a great success.  The plane is designed as an air launch vehicle for the lucrative commercial space market.  For a news blog with more details, go to Important Innovations Collection: Crowded Space Plane Skies : World

Stratolaunch Space Ventures - 4 New Satellite Launch Vehicles Paul Allen's Space Innovation Fleet Space Service 2020 Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's space company Stratolaunch is targeting growing demand for satellite launching vehicles.  He wants to make booking and getting into orbit on a satellite as easy as booking an airplane flight.  Sounds like the Microsoft way.  Stratolaunch just announced a fleet of 4 space vehicles:  a reusable space plane and 3 launch vehicles for satellites.  They expect to start space service in 2020. Capabilities Include World's Largest Plane as Launch Platform This system is proprietary and unique.  It will use the world's largest aircraft as a mobile launch platform.  It's capable of deploying launch vehicles to carry satellites to multiple orbits and inclinations on a single mission. More Details The vehicles just detailed by Allen's company include the space plane, the Pegasus (access into orbit with ...