Scaled Composites Stratolaunch Explained

The Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch or Roc is an aircraft built by Scaled Composites for Stratolaunch Systems to carry air-launch-to-orbit (ALTO) rockets, and subsequently repurposed to offer air launch hypersonic flight testing after a change of ownership. It was announced in December 2011, rolled out in May 2017,[1] and flew for the first time on April 13, 2019, shortly after the death of founder Paul Allen. The aircraft features a twin-fuselage design and the longest wingspan ever flown, at, surpassing the Hughes H-4 Hercules "Spruce Goose" flying boat of . The Stratolaunch is intended to carry a 550000lb payload and has a 1300000lb maximum takeoff weight.

The company ceased operations in May 2019, shortly after the first flight, and placed all company assets, including the aircraft, for sale by June 2019. In October 2019, Cerberus Capital Management acquired Stratolaunch Systems, including the Stratolaunch aircraft. Stratolaunch announced in December 2019 that it would now be focusing on offering high-speed flight test services., the Stratolaunch has flown thirteen times.[2]

History

Early development

In early 2011, Dynetics began studying the project and had approximately 40 employees working on it at the December 2011 public announcement. Stratolaunch originally planned to airlaunch the Falcon 9 Air by SpaceX, whose efforts began shortly before December.[3] Launching medium-sized payloads with the Falcon 9 dictated the aircraft size but SpaceX departed a year later.

In May 2012, its specially constructed hangar was being built at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California.[4] In October 2012, the first of two manufacturing buildings, an facility for construction of the composite sections of the wing and fuselage, was opened for production.[5]

In August 2013, the Pegasus II was selected for the air-launch vehicle.[6] In August 2014, all solid-fuel propulsion was selected, rather than liquid-fuel for the Orbital Sciences launcher.[7] In August 2015, of structure was assembled.

By June 2016, Scaled Composites had 300 people working on the project.[8] Virgin Orbit also planned to launch small satellites with the LauncherOne from a 747.[9] Orbital ATK dropped its Thunderbolt rocket project for medium-class payloads. In October 2016, the Pegasus II was replaced by multiple Pegasus XL mounted underneath the carrier aircraft, developments of the original Pegasus rocket which had been launched 42 times since 1990.[10]

Testing

By May 1, 2017, Stratolaunch had already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on the project.[11] On May 31, 2017, the aircraft was rolled out for fueling tests, and to be prepared for ground testing, engine runs, taxi tests, and ultimately, first flight. The company stated that it was aiming for a 2019 first-launch demonstration.[12] The Register newspaper in 2017 reported that Stratolaunch may have competition from the DARPA XS-1 or from Vector Space Systems by 2019.[13] By September 2017, engine testing was underway as well as testing of "control surfaces and electric, pneumatic and fire detection systems."[14] In December 2017, its first low-speed taxi test took it to 25knots on the runway, powered by its six turbofans, to test its steering, braking, and telemetry.[15] Higher-speed taxi tests began in 2018, reaching 40knots in February,[16] and 78kn in October.[17] On January 9, 2019, Stratolaunch completed a 110kn taxi test, and released a photograph of the nose landing gear lifted off the ground during the test.[18]

In January 2019, three months after the death of Stratolaunch founder and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Stratolaunch abandoned the development of its PGA rocket engines and dedicated launchers. This left the Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL as the sole launch option for an orbital capability of . Stratolaunch was then reported to be aiming for a first flight within a few weeks and a first launch from the carrier in 2020.[19]

The aircraft first flew on April 13, 2019, at the Mojave Air and Space Port, reaching 17000feet and speed of 165kn in a 2 hours 29 minutes flight.[20]

Development halt and sale

The future of Stratolaunch had been in doubt since the death of company founder Paul Allen in October 2018, with speculation that Stratolaunch Systems could cease operations. Allen had been the source of funds for the capital-intensive development program since the project began in 2010, and the company founding in 2011.[21]

In January 2019, Stratolaunch announced it was halting development of its air-launched family of launch vehicles.[21]

On May 31, 2019, the company announced that it would cease operations and that sale of its assets was being explored. An asking price of was reported, which would include the sole aircraft, the company facilities, equipment, the designs and other intellectual property.[22] [23] In June 2019 the Stratolaunch Systems company and assets were put up for sale by Vulcan for $400 million.[24]

By October 11, Stratolaunch announced it had new ownership and that it would continue regular operations, but did not disclose the identity of the investors.[25] In December, the new owner was revealed to be Cerberus Capital Management, a specialist in the acquisition of distressed companies.[26] After the acquisition, Stratolaunch is now focusing on offering high-speed flight test services.[27]

Post-ownership changes

By early 2020, Stratolaunch was developing the Talon-A reusable, rocket-powered, hypersonic flight vehicle (the Vulcan Aerospace Hyper-A concept in 2018), intended to reach Mach 5-7 after launch. Single Talon-A launch flights were planned for 2022, with an ambitious target to carry up to three hypersonic vehicles at once the following year. Larger concept vehicles, the Talon-Z and Black Ice, could carry cargo or people to orbit.[28]

The Stratolaunch made its second flight on April 29, 2021.[29] Its third flight took place on January 16, 2022, from Mojave Air and Space Port; the flight lasted 4 hours 23 minutes and reached altitude of over 7160m (23,490feet) and top speed of 330km/h.[30] It made its fourth flight on February 24, 2022.

On October 28, 2022, flight eight was the first captive carry flight with the Talon-A separation test vehicle, TA-0.[31]

On January 13, 2023, flight nine achieved a record duration of over six hours.[32] Data on aerodynamic loads and interactions between the two vehicles were collected during this test.[33] By April 1 2023, flight ten marked the start of routine operations.[34]

On March 5, 2024, the Stratolaunch released the Talon-A hypersonic vehicle at an altitude of about 35000feet.[35]

Design

Stratolaunch has a twin-fuselage configuration, each long and supported by 12 main landing gear wheels and two nose gear wheels, for a total of 28 wheels.[12] The twin-fuselage configuration is similar to the Scaled Composites White Knight Two. Each fuselage has its own empennage.[36]

The pilot, copilot, and flight engineer are accommodated in the right fuselage cockpit.[37] The flight data systems are in the left fuselage.[38] [39] The left fuselage cockpit is unmanned with storage space for up to 2,500 lb of mission-specific support equipment. Both fuselage cockpits are pressurized and separated by a composite pressure bulkhead from the remainder of the unpressurized vehicle.[40]

At, it is the largest plane by wingspan, greater than a American football field.[12] The main center section is made up of four primary composite spars supported by four secondary spars.[40] The center section of the high-mounted, high aspect ratio wing is fitted with a Mating and Integration System (MIS), developed by Dynetics and capable of handling a load.[41] The wing houses six main and two auxiliary fuel tanks, with the main tanks located inboard adjacent to an engine. The auxiliary tanks are located in the inboard wing where the load-carrying structure joins the fuselage.[40]

Stratolaunch is powered by six Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines positioned on pylons outboard of each fuselage, providing of thrust per engine. Many of the aircraft systems have been adopted from the Boeing 747-400, including the engines, avionics, flight deck, landing gear and other systems, reducing development costs.[3]

The flight controls include 12 cable-driven ailerons powered by hydraulic actuators, split rudders, and horizontal stabilizers on twin tail units. The wing has 14 electrically signaled, hydraulically actuated trailing-edge split flaps that also act as speed brakes. The hydraulic system and actuators, electrical system, avionics, pilot controls, and flight deck are from donor B747-400s. Approximately 250,000 lb of the aircraft's takeoff weight of 1,300,000 lb is from B747-400 components.[40]

The aircraft requires of runway to lift-off.[3] Rocket separation was originally planned at .[37] A payload of can be flown.[11] Carrying a Pegasus II, it could originally deliver up to satellites to LEO or to a 15° GTO.[5] Launch of a Dream Chaser small spaceplane capable of transporting astronauts or payloads within 24 hours was also proposed.[42] [43] A subsequent goal was to carry up to three Orbital ATK "Pegasus XL" rockets for high-altitude launches by 2022,[44] [45] before the retargeting to hypersonic flight.

Within Scaled Composites, its model number is M351.[46] It is nicknamed "Roc" after the mythical bird, said to be large enough to carry an elephant.[37]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stratolaunch airborne in first flight of world's largest aircraft . April 13, 2019 . Flightglobal . April 13, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190413160756/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/stratolaunch-airborne-in-first-flight-of-worlds-lar-457453/ . April 13, 2019 . live .
  2. Stratolaunch . Stratolaunch Completes 2nd Captive Carry Flight with TA-1 Test Vehicle . 2024-02-24 . www.prnewswire.com . en.
  3. News: Allen Places Big Bet On Air Launches . Michael Mecham and Frank Morring, Jr. . December 19, 2011 . Aviation Week & Space Technology . May 4, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171007025843/http://aviationweek.com/awin/allen-places-big-bet-air-launches . October 7, 2017 . live .
  4. News: Doug Messier . Space Goose's Nest Grows in the Mojave . . May 5, 2012 . October 7, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121007022432/http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/10/05/space-gooses-nest-grows-in-the-mojave/ . October 7, 2012 . live .
  5. News: Stratolaunch and Orbital – The Height of Air Launch . Chris Bergin . May 24, 2013 . . June 19, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130608063833/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/stratolaunch-orbital-air-launch/ . June 8, 2013 . live .
  6. ATK Gets Contract for Stratolaunch Propulsion System . ATK . August 12, 2013 . December 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171227181911/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atk-awarded-contract-by-orbital-sciences-to-support-stratolaunch-system-219356461.html . December 27, 2017 . live .
  7. News: Stratolaunch Drops Liquid Stage From Rocket System . Aviation Week Network . November 6, 2014 . Amy Butler . subscription . December 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170915115048/http://aviationweek.com/awin-only/stratolaunch-drops-liquid-stage-rocket-system-0 . September 15, 2017 . live .
  8. News: Gates . Dominic . Dominic Gates . Paul Allen's giant plane takes shape in the desert, but its market is unclear . Seattle Times . June 19, 2016 . December 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171227180616/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/paul-allens-giant-plane-takes-shape-in-the-desert-but-its-market-is-unclear/ . December 27, 2017 . live .
  9. News: Why Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is building the world's largest airplane . . Christian Davenport . June 20, 2016 . June 21, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160621125740/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/06/20/why-paul-allen-is-building-the-worlds-largest-airplane/ . June 21, 2016 . live .
  10. News: Stephen Clark . Stratolaunch announces plan to fly with Pegasus rockets . . October 10, 2016 . February 20, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301064108/http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/10/10/stratolaunch-announces-plan-to-fly-with-pegasus-rockets/ . March 1, 2017 . live .
  11. News: Stratolaunch rolls out giant aircraft . . May 31, 2017 . Jeff . Foust.
  12. Stratolaunch Aircraft Makes First Rollout To Begin Fueling Tests . May 31, 2017 . Stratolaunch . https://web.archive.org/web/20170601133908/http://www.stratolaunch.com/news/FirstRollout.html . June 1, 2017 . April 14, 2019.
  13. News: Microsoft founder Paul Allen reveals world's biggest-ever plane . . June 1, 2017 . Simon . Sharwood . June 1, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170601103639/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/06/01/paul_allen_stratolaunch/ . June 1, 2017 . live .
  14. News: Engine test latest step for Stratolaunch's giant aircraft . . Jeff . Foust . September 19, 2017.
  15. Stratolaunch Completes First Low-Speed Taxi Test . December 18, 2017 . Stratolaunch . December 27, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171225132702/http://www.stratolaunch.com/news/StratolaunchTaxiTest.html . December 25, 2017 . live .
  16. News: Baylor . Michael . Stratolaunch conducts high-speed taxi tests on giant carrier aircraft . . February 26, 2018 . February 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180227035821/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/02/stratolaunch-high-speed-taxi-tests-carrier-aircraft/ . February 27, 2018 . live .
  17. News: Wall . Mike . Stratolaunch's Rocket Carrier, the Biggest Airplane Ever Built, Aces Fastest Runway Test Yet . . October 29, 2018 . November 2, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181102023949/https://www.space.com/42281-stratolaunch-rocket-mothership-runway-test-video.html . November 2, 2018 . live .
  18. Web site: Stratolaunch gets world's biggest airplane ready for takeoff with 136 mph taxi test . Alan Boyle . January 9, 2018 . January 10, 2018 . Geekwire . https://web.archive.org/web/20190110024901/https://www.geekwire.com/2019/stratolaunch-gets-worlds-biggest-airplane-ready-takeoff-136-mph-taxi-test/ . January 10, 2019 . live .
  19. News: Stratolaunch Terminates Rocket Engine and Launcher Programs . January 19, 2019 . Guy Norris . Aviation Week Network.
  20. News: Stratolaunch becomes world's largest aircraft to fly . April 13, 2019 . Flightglobal . April 14, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414071438/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-stratolaunch-becomes-worlds-largest-aircr-457453/ . April 14, 2019 . live .
  21. News: Foust. Jeff . Stratolaunch abandons launch vehicle program . . 18 January 2019 . 2019-02-06 .
  22. News: Exclusive: Space firm founded by billionaire Paul Allen closing… . 2019-06-01 . Reuters . June 6, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190606193839/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-stratolaunch-exclus-idUSKCN1T12FD . June 6, 2019 . live .
  23. Web site: Stratolaunch Price Tag $400,000,000 . 17 June 2019. Niles. Russ . AVweb. 15 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190617200826/https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/stratolaunch-price-tag-400000000/. 17 June 2019.
  24. Web site: The world's largest airplane is up for sale for $400 million. CNBC. 14 June 2019. June 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190619195529/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/14/vulcan-selling-stratolaunch-worlds-largest-airplane-for-400-million.html. June 19, 2019. live.
  25. News: Stratolaunch gets a mysterious new owner, a year after Paul Allen's death . Samantha Masunaga . Oct 11, 2019 . LA Times.
  26. Exclusive: Buyer of Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch space venture is secretive Trump ally
  27. WJeanFloyd . 1204552846143713280 . 10 December 2019 . Stratolaunch grew from 13 to 87 employees over the past 2 months. . 11 December 2019 .
  28. News: Stratolaunch resurrects its hypersonic rocket vehicle under a new name: Talon-A . Boyle. Alan . . 30 March 2020.
  29. Broadbent . Mike . 'Roc' airborne again . . June 2021 . 100 . 6 . 7 . 0306-5634.
  30. Web site: Stratolaunch plane flies again as company prepares for hypersonic tests. January 17, 2022.
  31. Web site: Stratolaunch Completes First Flight with Talon-A Separation Vehicle . 2023-04-02 . Stratolaunch . en.
  32. Roc completed its flight at 2:51 p.m. setting a new record for the longest flight to date at six hours and marking our first time flying outside of the Mojave range! . 1614037876945068032 . Stratolaunch. January 13, 2023. 2023-04-02 . Twitter . en.
  33. Stratolaunch . Stratolaunch Completes Second Captive Carry Flight with TA-0 Test Vehicle . 2023-04-02 . www.prnewswire.com . en.
  34. Stratolaunch . Stratolaunch Completes Third Captive Carry Flight with Talon-A Vehicle . 2023-04-02 . www.prnewswire.com . en.
  35. Web site: Rabie . Passant . Watch as World's Largest Plane Releases Hypersonic Vehicle for Its First Powered Test Flight . Gizmodo . 2024-03-11 . 2024-03-17.
  36. News: Inside Stratolaunch . . Jeff Foust . June 20, 2016 . April 15, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415103751/http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3012/1 . April 15, 2019 . live .
  37. News: Paul Allen's colossal Stratolaunch plane emerges from its lair . . May 31, 2017 . Dominic Gates . June 1, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170601230235/http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/allens-colossal-stratolaunch-plane-emerges-from-its-lair/ . June 1, 2017 . live .
  38. Web site: Scaled Composites-designed Stratolaunch taxis . Tulis . David . December 19, 2017 . AOPA.org . Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association . April 15, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415094834/https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2017/december/19/immense-mother-ship-stratolaunch-taxis . April 15, 2019 . live .
  39. Web site: The Stratolaunch is huge, but it's not the strangest aircraft ever built in Southern California . Masunaga . Samantha . June 20, 2016 . Los Angeles Times . April 15, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415094823/https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-socal-aircraft-20160620-snap-htmlstory.html . April 15, 2019 . live .
  40. Web site: Stratolaunch Aims To Restart Flight Tests In Early 2021 . October 16, 2020 . Aviation Week.
  41. News: Paul G. Allen Announces Revolution in Space Transportation . 10 . December 13, 2011 . Stratolaunch Systems . . April 15, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415125517/https://space.nss.org/media/Stratolaunch-PressKit-FAQ.pdf . April 15, 2019 . live .
  42. Web site: Private Dream Chaser Space Plane May Launch from Giant Aircraft . Dickerson . Kelly . October 6, 2014 . Space.com . en . April 15, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415102147/https://www.space.com/27349-dream-chaser-space-plane-stratolaunch.html . April 15, 2019 . live .
  43. Web site: Dream Chaser Teams with Stratolaunch to Carry People into Space . Whitfield . Bethany . October 2, 2014 . Flying Magazine . en . April 15, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415102147/https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/dream-chaser-teams-stratolaunch-carry-people-space . April 15, 2019 . live .
  44. Web site: The World's Largest Plane's First Flight From Every Angle . 15 April 2019 . Popular Mechanics . 15 April 2019 . The tests come after a long series of taxi tests that always stopped just short of achieving actual flight, but now that threshold has been crossed, and the engineers seem pleased with the results. . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415161852/https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/airlines/a27148543/stratolaunch-first-flight-video-images/ . April 15, 2019 . live .
  45. Web site: STRATOLAUNCH, THE WORLD'S BIGGEST AIRPLANE, TAKES FLIGHT . 13 April 2019 . Condé Nast Wired . 15 April 2019 . eight years in the making. By 2022, the company hopes to use the twin-fuselage, six-engined, catamaran-style aircraft to launch satellite-bearing rockets into space. . https://web.archive.org/web/20190415060716/https://www.wired.com/story/stratolaunch-flight/ . April 15, 2019 . live .
  46. Web site: Projects . Scaled Composites . June 21, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180225200616/http://www.scaled.com/projects/ . February 25, 2018 . dead .

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