Published impressive pictures.
Stratolaunch is just the greatest in the world plane. Moreover, freight is able to launch carrier rockets. He is not flying, but left the hangar in the Mojave desert in California.
Let’s look at the giant.
The wingspan of the aircraft is 117 meters long and weighs 230 tons. The ship, reaching a height of 15 meters, equipped with landing gear with 28 wheels. Technical characteristics of the aircraft allow it to carry a payload of up to 250 tons.
“If you put this plane in the middle of the football field, his wings will play over the goal line at 5 meters on both sides”
Thus, the Stratolaunch plane will be almost 20 meters wider than the legendary “H-4 Hercules”, 30 meters wider than the Soviet media of the Buran an-225 and 37 meters wider than the huge Airbus A380.
With the world’s largest aircraft designed to transport three-stage rocket, which is attached between the two fuselages.
Upon reaching the desired height the rocket will detach and fly into space, and then release the satellite. That’s how it should look in theory:
The total weight of the airplane and the rocket will be about 600 tons; it is expected that this system will be able to output in low earth orbit up to 6 tons payload.
It was only vykatka of the aircraft. The first demonstration launch is planned for 2019. But will it really fly someday, or it will remain only a “Grand project” is the life of the show.
By the way, Stratolaunch was established in 2011, Paul Allen, who is one of the founders of Microsoft.
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