MOJAVE, Calif., - Nearly a decade ago, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen founded Stratolaunch to build an aircraft capable of launching orbital rockets. At the time, the company's leadership included a host of luminous spaceflight officials, including former NASA chief Mike Griffin, who said the Stratolaunch aircraft “would make a very effective launcher," reports Eric Berger for Ars Technica. Continue reading original article.
The Intelligent Aerospace take:
April 3, 2020-The world's largest plane has taken to the skies just once - in April of last year. Stratolaunch recently announced that it would be rolling out a new business plan: as a test bed building and operating hypersonics. The company says its Talon-A is a reusable vehicle capable of reaching Mach 6. The Stratolaunch aircraft will be capable of carrying three of the 8.5 meter long Talon-A's.
"Our hypersonic testbeds will serve as a catalyst in sparking a renaissance in hypersonic technologies for our government, the commercial sector, and academia," said W. Jean Floyd, Stratolaunch's chief executive, in a statement.
Related: Surface damage to vehicles traveling at hypersonic speeds from ice and dust particles
Related: Hypersonic flight technology just passed a 'hugely significant' milestone
Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace
