Stratolaunch: General Company and Development Updates and Discussions

[Rik ISS-fan]

Speculation in 4 words:
3th stage
Firefly
OBV

Do I have to explain my thoughts or can you follow me?
Could this be what is happening?

[Comga]

Some changes at the company:

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/charles-beames-leaves-top-post-vulcan-aerospace-jean-floyd-expands-role/

Today Allen suggested that Beames’ departure is related to Stratolaunch’s anticipated shift to its operational phase.

Operational phase?
The megaplane is "76% complete" and they don't have an announced design for the rocket.
How is this "operational"?

[Kabloona]

Some changes at the company:

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/charles-beames-leaves-top-post-vulcan-aerospace-jean-floyd-expands-role/

Today Allen suggested that Beames’ departure is related to Stratolaunch’s anticipated shift to its operational phase.

Operational phase?
The megaplane is "76% complete" and they don't have an announced design for the rocket.
How is this "operational"?

Jean Floyd used to be Pegasus program manager at Orbital.

In other words, the press release means that they've decided to take the path of least resistance to flying "something", ie Pegasus, and now they've put a guy in charge who knows Pegasus and Orbital well, and will be a good liaison between the companies. Chuck Beames was not that guy, so he's being eased out.

Maybe wrong, but that's how I read it.

[Jimmy Murdok]

In any case they go for real, in June it was reported to be 76% completed, but completely unclear on what they will launch. In any case is a tactical craft that any country would love to have.









http://aerospace.vulcan.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/20/science/stratolaunchs-gargantuan-flying-launchpad-edges-toward-the-skies.htm
http://danielmarin.naukas.com/2016/06/20/el-mayor-avion-del-mundo-toma-forma-y-lanzara-cohetes-desde-el-aire/

[Kryten]

I guess if, like the above poster suggests, long term development with OrbATK is on the books, it could still be the SRB/RL10 contraption?

Given OrbATK are now working on a BE-3-powered upper stage for NGLV, BE-3 seems likely for this project as well.

[Robotbeat]

I think this is fantastic. Had all but given up on Stratolaunch, and was expecting Pegasus (which is now one of the most reliable launch vehicles in the world--33 successful launches in a row so far, better even than Delta IV, at least by that metric) to go extinct fairly soon partly due to upkeep costs of the Starliner.

As far as the 3-Pegasi at once, I think this makes sense from a ferrying perspective. You can bring a bunch of Pegasi to the base at once, instead of ferrying them at once. And it makes for a cool graphic. Doesn't mean you HAVE to launch 3 at once.

What it does mean is you can launch an entire, multi-plane constellation of microsats at once. This is useful in case your previous satellites were all taken out with Sandra Bullock being the only survivor. But it's a notional configuration which allows growth but doesn't have to be actually deployed.

Doesn't change my opinion that it is overall a good turn of events for both sides.

[ThePhugoid]

What it does mean is you can launch an entire, multi-plane constellation of microsats at once. This is useful in case your previous satellites were all taken out with Sandra Bullock being the only survivor. But it's a notional configuration which allows growth but doesn't have to be actually deployed.

Doesn't change my opinion that it is overall a good turn of events for both sides.

I think you're right.  If smallsat constellations really are the direction the market goes, something like this could populate them much more rapidly than piecemeal flights from a larger single LV.

[jongoff]

This is terrific news. But a question.

I may be a little thick in the head, but when/why would anyone want to launch 3 LVs at the same time/mission?

All of my crazy ideas for multiple air-launched missions kind of require both rockets to be liquid fueled...  And preferably launched in powers of 2 (ie 2, 4, or if you're really ambitious, 8...)

~Jon

[NaN]

Yeah, this is great news for Stratolaunch, they've finally found a partner who is both capable and will stick with this business. The illustration showing 3 Pegasus on board is just a capability, it doesn't imply they would wait for three payloads before launching.

For OrbitalATK, I wonder if the plan would be to ultimately retire the L-1011 and let Stratolaunch operate the air launches. Stratolaunch could continue launching Pegasus and a bigger rocket that Orbital would develop.

[as58]

... And it makes for a cool graphic. ...

I think this one is the reason for showing three rockets.

[Archibald]

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2198/1

It makes for a nice wallpaper

[GWH]

At $56 million/launch for the most recent Pegasus missions without the amortised costs of the new carrier I can't imagine any possible scenario where this is cost competitive.

There's been lots of discussion on the feasibility of air launch and the marginal benefits, could it not enable simplified land based 1st stage recovery? 
Would imagine something such as a "boost forward" of the 1st stage after separation that would put the stage on a ballistic trajectory to an oceanside recovery (anomalies would result in ballistic trajectory to the ocean, guaranteed by FTS).  Although with reasonable glide capabilities might be able to achieve sufficient flattening of trajectory.  Or is upper stage flight over land in any form a no go?

[Nibb31]

I've always thought that Stratolaunch has a bit of a Glomar Explorer vibe to it. It makes absolutely no sense at all otherwise.

[Rocket Science]

Stand-off rocket powered massive ordinance ground penetrator...

[Archibald]

I've always thought that Stratolaunch has a bit of a Glomar Explorer vibe to it. It makes absolutely no sense at all otherwise.

Glomar Explorer, you say? Read on.

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2198/1

Which is the very same article I posted upstream :p

[Kryten]

‏@PaulGAllen
Visited @Stratolaunch & proud of amazing work my team is doing to bring world's largest composite aircraft to life http://aerospace.vulcan.com

[ringsider]

Reminds me of the Spruce Goose. Carbon Cockatoo?

[Katana]

At $56 million/launch for the most recent Pegasus missions without the amortised costs of the new carrier I can't imagine any possible scenario where this is cost competitive.

There's been lots of discussion on the feasibility of air launch and the marginal benefits, could it not enable simplified land based 1st stage recovery? 
Would imagine something such as a "boost forward" of the 1st stage after separation that would put the stage on a ballistic trajectory to an oceanside recovery (anomalies would result in ballistic trajectory to the ocean, guaranteed by FTS).  Although with reasonable glide capabilities might be able to achieve sufficient flattening of trajectory.  Or is upper stage flight over land in any form a no go?

Island instead of land is OK.

[CameronD]

Reminds me of the Spruce Goose. Carbon Cockatoo?

Not a bad choice of moniker.. but since Cockatoos tend to be (a) big, (b) proud, (c) noisy and (d) incredibly destructive, we'll need to wait for flight test to tell if it fits.

[matthewkantar]

The picture with Allen standing on the wing is surprising to me. I can't tell for sure what is a mat laid down to protect the wing surface, and what is actual wing, but it looks like there are many many fasteners sticking out of the wing surface. Would seem that this eats into the advantages of composite construction in two ways. It makes for an aerodynamically dirty surface and requires hard points and washering all over the place to spread the loads out and create flanges.

I guess we will never know, but I am curious about the magnitude of the weight saved with composite construction in this project.

Matthew