Author Topic: Stratolaunch: General Company and Development Updates and Discussions (Read 1052289 times)

rsnellenberger · « **Reply #1380 on:** 02/26/2015 04:40 pm »

Since this is based on the west coast, should we assume polar-only launches? Or does the cited 1000-mile range (seen in the video) imply that they can fly far enough west to have safe east-bound launches?

With that power and wingspan, wonder whether an unladen Roc might handle more like a U-2 on take off and landing than it would a "normal" airplane...

rayleighscatter · « **Reply #1381 on:** 02/26/2015 11:42 pm »

Quote from: rsnellenberger on 02/26/2015 04:40 pm

Since this is based on the west coast, should we assume polar-only launches? Or does the cited 1000-mile range (seen in the video) imply that they can fly far enough west to have safe east-bound launches?

With that power and wingspan, wonder whether an unladen Roc might handle more like a U-2 on take off and landing than it would a "normal" airplane...

There's no reason it couldn't fly to the east coast.

PeanutGallery · « **Reply #1382 on:** 03/01/2015 12:57 am »

SpaceNews posted a recent KGET local news station report on Mojave space developments which includes video and photos of the Stratolauncher carrier aircraft currently under construction in the hanger. This might be the first public images seen of this aircraft.
http://spacenews.com/stratolaunch-video-snagged-by-local-news-team/

Rocket Science · « **Reply #1383 on:** 03/01/2015 01:21 am »

Quote from: PeanutGallery on 03/01/2015 12:57 am

SpaceNews posted a recent KGET local news station report on Mojave space developments which includes video and photos of the Stratolauncher carrier aircraft currently under construction in the hanger. This might be the first public images seen of this aircraft.
http://spacenews.com/stratolaunch-video-snagged-by-local-news-team/

I find the ITAR photo restrictions interesting...

Robotbeat · « **Reply #1384 on:** 03/01/2015 01:52 am »

What a country we live in! These are our /third-tier/ launch innovators (as far as resources, not with respect to innovation and drive!), and they're still the envy of the world.

titanmiller · « **Reply #1385 on:** 04/13/2015 01:15 am »

Here is a new billboard that depicts the Stratolaunch carrier aircraft. This gives me hope that the project is still alive even though there has been no official news since 2012.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #1386 on:** 04/13/2015 03:13 am »

There has been some news. Some TV news report showed them building the huge airplane quite recently. It's still going. This is a legacy project, so building a huge aircraft is part of the reason they're given money!

arachnitect · « **Reply #1387 on:** 04/13/2015 02:56 pm »

Well they seem totally committed to building Spruce Goose II. Maybe they should be working on the whole rocket thing though.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #1388 on:** 04/14/2015 05:44 am »

Looks like Paul Allen has announced a new arm of his investment fund to develop various concepts which the Stratolaunch system will support, and it's called.......Vulcan Aerospace.

(no this is not a co-incidence as Allen is trying stop ULA from using that name, although since I thought Vulcan Inc. is an investment fund the protest will probably come to nothing)

Archibald · « **Reply #1389 on:** 04/14/2015 09:22 am »

The creation of Vulcan aerospace and the tidbits we know about it makes me thinking.
How about Stratolaunch to fill an orbital propellant depot ? 13500 pounds isn't that much, then it is all a matter of frequent flights (or not)
Do they plan a second Roc aircraft ?
How often could they fly ? once a week ? once a day ?

ChrisWilson68 · « **Reply #1390 on:** 04/14/2015 10:10 am »

Quote from: baldusi on 02/11/2015 09:14 pm

I'm not that versed in the American tax system. Normally, when writing off some project, you "recover" 35% in tax savings (or the marginal tax rate for physical persons, which is something like 48%, I believe). But what about donations to the Smothsonian or the Air and Space Museum? Can you get a 100% on the value of the donated item? It could well cover most of the investment if the project fails.

No, you can't get 100%. All you can ever get for a charitable donation is your marginal tax rate. Your taxable earnings are reduced by the amount of the donation.

newpylong · « **Reply #1391 on:** 04/15/2015 01:56 pm »

Quote from: arachnitect on 04/13/2015 02:56 pm

Well they seem totally committed to building Spruce Goose II. Maybe they should be working on the whole rocket thing though.

You are aware that Orbital is designing/building the rocket not Stratolaunch correct?

Danderman · « **Reply #1392 on:** 04/15/2015 02:05 pm »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 04/14/2015 05:44 am

Looks like Paul Allen has announced a new arm of his investment fund to develop various concepts which the Stratolaunch system will support, and it's called.......Vulcan Aerospace.

Vulcan Aerospace has been around for many years. They just happen to have made a public announcement recently.

Rocket Science · « **Reply #1393 on:** 04/15/2015 02:07 pm »

Quote from: arachnitect on 04/13/2015 02:56 pm

Well they seem totally committed to building Spruce Goose II. Maybe they should be working on the whole rocket thing though.

No spruce, but a lot of carbon-fiber though...

spacenut · « **Reply #1394 on:** 04/15/2015 06:36 pm »

Stratolaunch is using a solid rocket isn't it? What if it used a chemical rocket, could that increase the payload, or would the boil off be too much before getting into position to launch?

Lars-J · « **Reply #1395 on:** 04/15/2015 06:57 pm »

Quote from: spacenut on 04/15/2015 06:36 pm

Stratolaunch is using a solid rocket isn't it? What if it used a chemical rocket, could that increase the payload, or would the boil off be too much before getting into position to launch?

I assume you mean a liquid? (both solid and liquid rockets are chemical) Yes, boil-off is a concern. The 3rd stage is (as far as we know) still planned to use HydroLox propellants, so I'm not sure how they would solve it. I believe this would be the first example of an air-launched rocket using cryogenic propellants.

arachnitect · « **Reply #1396 on:** 04/15/2015 08:08 pm »

Quote from: newpylong on 04/15/2015 01:56 pm

Quote from: arachnitect on 04/13/2015 02:56 pm
Well they seem totally committed to building Spruce Goose II. Maybe they should be working on the whole rocket thing though.

You are aware that Orbital is designing/building the rocket not Stratolaunch correct?

OrbATK is a subcontractor for the LV (not the first one, either).

Nobody has said anything about the rocket for months (years?) now.

I'll eat a shoe if they ever make an orbital launch attempt.

simonbp · « **Reply #1397 on:** 04/15/2015 09:41 pm »

Allen has deeper pockets than you can imagine and likes to play the long game. There will be orbital launches from Roc, but I wouldn't count on it before 2020...

Kansan52 · « **Reply #1398 on:** 04/15/2015 09:54 pm »

Quote from: Rocket Science on 04/15/2015 02:07 pm

Quote from: arachnitect on 04/13/2015 02:56 pm
Well they seem totally committed to building Spruce Goose II. Maybe they should be working on the whole rocket thing though.
No spruce, but a lot of carbon-fiber though...

Not much spruce on the Spruce Goose. Mostly birch. Although the fashioned a composite material with all that glue and wood.

Rocket Science · « **Reply #1399 on:** 04/15/2015 09:58 pm »

Quote from: Kansan52 on 04/15/2015 09:54 pm

Quote from: Rocket Science on 04/15/2015 02:07 pm
Quote from: arachnitect on 04/13/2015 02:56 pm
Well they seem totally committed to building Spruce Goose II. Maybe they should be working on the whole rocket thing though.
No spruce, but a lot of carbon-fiber though...

Not much spruce on the Spruce Goose. Mostly birch. Although the fashioned a composite material with all that glue and wood.

Wood is nature's composite...