Stratolaunch: General Company and Development Updates and Discussions

[parabolicarc]

SNC, Stratolaunch expand on proposed Dream Chaser flights - by Chris Gebhardt:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/11/snc-stratolaunch-dream-chaser-flights/

Oh good. SNC's shuttle that may never fly is now teamed up with a launch system that might never get off the ground. There are lots of development issues with Stratolaunch right now.

Nothing that can not be solve with lotta of greenbacks. After all the whole Stratolaunch project is the result of one eccentric billionaire. 

I dunno about that.

The whole WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo program came about as a result of two eccentric billionaires. Allen got out while he was ahead with SpaceShipOne. Branson and Abu Dhabi have poured $500 million into the project over 10 years and haven't been to space yet.

Now imagine a similar launch system whose size and problems are both exponentially larger. Consider that Allen is a bit sharper than Branson in terms of tech. And he won't throw good money after bad if things go seriously south.

[butters]

Consider that Allen is a bit sharper than Branson in terms of tech. And he won't throw good money after bad if things go seriously south.

Which is why, IMO, the marketing emphasis is on the notion of extreme flexibility, availability, and response time -- the kinds of capabilities that could potentially appeal to government customers. Can't hurt to cast out the line in case a big fish might bite, but otherwise it's a marginal play that should be wound down promptly for lack of an anchor customer.

[Zed_Noir]

SNC, Stratolaunch expand on proposed Dream Chaser flights - by Chris Gebhardt:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/11/snc-stratolaunch-dream-chaser-flights/

Oh good. SNC's shuttle that may never fly is now teamed up with a launch system that might never get off the ground. There are lots of development issues with Stratolaunch right now.

Nothing that can not be solve with lotta of greenbacks. After all the whole Stratolaunch project is the result of one eccentric billionaire. 

I dunno about that.

The whole WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo program came about as a result of two eccentric billionaires. Allen got out while he was ahead with SpaceShipOne. Branson and Abu Dhabi have poured $500 million into the project over 10 years and haven't been to space yet.

Now imagine a similar launch system whose size and problems are both exponentially larger. Consider that Allen is a bit sharper than Branson in terms of tech. And he won't throw good money after bad if things go seriously south.

Which is why, IMO, the marketing emphasis is on the notion of extreme flexibility, availability, and response time -- the kinds of capabilities that could potentially appeal to government customers. Can't hurt to cast out the line in case a big fish might bite, but otherwise it's a marginal play that should be wound down promptly for lack of an anchor customer.

While I agree with @parabolicarc there might be issues with whole Stratolaunch program. Don't see any showstopper for the Roc carrier aircraft. Someone will find a use for it once it's completed, just like the Antonov An-225.

[Jcc]

I have not read most of this thread, so if covered before please point out where. I read that the 75% size DC would have about 1/2 the mass. One main advantage of air launch is that the abort rockets and fuel are no longer required, just maneuvering and de-orbit capability. So how much mass is saved by no abort capability?

Isn't it possible for the booster to fail or even detonate after air drop? If humans are on board, I think you would still want to have a means to escape that. It may not need as much energy as it would to escape vertically from the launch pad.

[baldusi]

I have not read most of this thread, so if covered before please point out where. I read that the 75% size DC would have about 1/2 the mass. One main advantage of air launch is that the abort rockets and fuel are no longer required, just maneuvering and de-orbit capability. So how much mass is saved by no abort capability?

Isn't it possible for the booster to fail or even detonate after air drop? If humans are on board, I think you would still want to have a means to escape that. It may not need as much energy as it would to escape vertically from the launch pad.

You still want to be able to outrun the solid while thrusting. Specially at MaxQ. Say in case of a TVC failure, for example.

[parabolicarc]

SNC, Stratolaunch expand on proposed Dream Chaser flights - by Chris Gebhardt:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/11/snc-stratolaunch-dream-chaser-flights/

Oh good. SNC's shuttle that may never fly is now teamed up with a launch system that might never get off the ground. There are lots of development issues with Stratolaunch right now.

Nothing that can not be solve with lotta of greenbacks. After all the whole Stratolaunch project is the result of one eccentric billionaire. 

I dunno about that.

The whole WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo program came about as a result of two eccentric billionaires. Allen got out while he was ahead with SpaceShipOne. Branson and Abu Dhabi have poured $500 million into the project over 10 years and haven't been to space yet.

Now imagine a similar launch system whose size and problems are both exponentially larger. Consider that Allen is a bit sharper than Branson in terms of tech. And he won't throw good money after bad if things go seriously south.

Which is why, IMO, the marketing emphasis is on the notion of extreme flexibility, availability, and response time -- the kinds of capabilities that could potentially appeal to government customers. Can't hurt to cast out the line in case a big fish might bite, but otherwise it's a marginal play that should be wound down promptly for lack of an anchor customer.

While I agree with @parabolicarc there might be issues with whole Stratolaunch program. Don't see any showstopper for the Roc carrier aircraft. Someone will find a use for it once it's completed, just like the Antonov An-225.

Ummm....cracks in the wings? Like the ones they discovered in WhiteKnightTwo. It's very possible.

[Zed_Noir]

While I agree with @parabolicarc there might be issues with whole Stratolaunch program. Don't see any showstopper for the Roc carrier aircraft. Someone will find a use for it once it's completed, just like the Antonov An-225.

Ummm....cracks in the wings? Like the ones they discovered in WhiteKnightTwo. It's very possible.

Again, not a showstopper. Just takes more time & money. It depends on the structure margins for the Roc aircraft, which  have no public info released. Is there rumors about wing structure issues?

Wing structure issues is not uncommon with large cargo aircraft.

[parabolicarc]

While I agree with @parabolicarc there might be issues with whole Stratolaunch program. Don't see any showstopper for the Roc carrier aircraft. Someone will find a use for it once it's completed, just like the Antonov An-225.

Ummm....cracks in the wings? Like the ones they discovered in WhiteKnightTwo. It's very possible.

Again, not a showstopper. Just takes more time & money. It depends on the structure margins for the Roc aircraft, which  have no no public info released. Is there rumors about wing structure issues?

Wing structure issues is not uncommon with large cargo aircraft.

There are reliable reports they're running into some of the same problems they had with WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo. Those were a big step beyond SpaceShipOne. Stratolaunch is an even bigger step beyond anything else Scaled has attempted.

The other problem is Scaled ain't what it used to be since Rutan left.

Throwing enough money at problem can solve them. But it's a question of when do you stop shoveling.  Everyone assumed SpaceShipTwo would be flying into space years ago. Ten years and nowhere near it. I've stopped assuming that everything people do here is going to succeed.

[TrevorMonty]

DC mini may have to find a new ride, Antares maybe.

[yg1968]

It looks like they are progressing on the plane:

Quote of the day, at Stratolaunch: Kevin Mickey (from Scaled): We expect to fly this in 2016.
Me: This whole thing?
Mickey: This whole thing

https://twitter.com/Pat_DefDaily/status/558084849354149888

It is amazing to see stratolaunch's 300 foot wide aircraft in person. Truly a feat of engineeringm

https://twitter.com/Pat_DefDaily/status/557943736546516993

[yg1968]

Plane is almost 40% complete:
http://www.defensedaily.com/stratolaunchs-carrier-aircraft-almost-40-percent-complete/

MOJAVE, Calif. --Stratolaunch Systems is almost 40 percent through assembly of its massive carrier aircraft and is on track for a 2016 first flight goal, according to Scaled Composites President Kevin Mickey.Mickey said the company has also built about 80 percent…

[docmordrid]

President Kevin Mickey.Mickey said the company has also built about 80 percent…

....of the major parts?

[AnalogMan]

President Kevin Mickey.Mickey said the company has also built about 80 percent…

....of the major parts?

"Mickey said the company has also built about 80 percent of the aircraft's composites by weight."

[docmordrid]

Ahhh....

Thanks!

[Gliderflyer]

Long time lurker, first time poster. I don't know if this has been posted anywhere else, but there was a local news video that showed the Stratolaunch aircraft under construction.

Link: http://www.kerngoldenempire.com/specialreports/story/d/story/kget-special-report-mojave-air-and-spaceport/84740/3hrM3k6tfEyhH0EWMVkSIw

[Blackstar]

Some screencaps.

[Chris Bergin]

Very nice! Direction of the program itself is the main question still, however. But this is great to see they are still building the carrier!

[RcTeller]

It is great to finally see pictures of Roc under construction!  It's hard to fathom how big this aircraft actually is, even with the pictures.

Two "conspiracy" thoughts.

1) the project has a government money source and is as such a modern "Glomar Explorer".   This was alluded to earlier in the thread.

2) Scaled will graft a CRJ cockpit on to the front of the plane with payload/launch specialists behind that.  It would certainly be a cost effective way to have a cockpit/window band.  You can probably buy and RJ fuse for $100k or less.

Thoughts?

RcTeller

[Lars-J]

...Or the project is "Spruce Goose Mk II".

It looks impressive, but it ... just doesn't make sense. IMO.

[Eerie]

Thoughts?

I'm not aware of any Soviet nuclear bombers stuck in the stratosphere. :-)