Quote from: ncb1397 on 11/06/2019 01:14 amYou probably wouldn't need a rotary launcher. You have over 100 feet of wingspan between the fuselages which is enough to fit over 50 air launched cruise missiles side by side.That would be preferable, but do hardpoints need to be integrated into the wing structure at the outset of vehicle design? Stratolaunch was designed to carry a large mass on the centerline, not under the wings, so not sure that can just be strapped on.
You probably wouldn't need a rotary launcher. You have over 100 feet of wingspan between the fuselages which is enough to fit over 50 air launched cruise missiles side by side.
It's been sobering to consider what Stratolaunch could offer as a standoff platform for hypersonic weapons. The AGM-183A is supposedly around 20,000 lbs, and there are solid plans & contracts in place to mount up to 4 of them under the wings of the B-52. A fully loaded Stratolaunch has room & payload capacity to carry upwards of 20-30 of this class of weapon. This would be new type of hypersonic swarm weapon with frightening & disruptive capability.
Stratolaunch grew from 13 to 87 employees over the past 2 months. 2020 will be a great year! VISION: Breaking Barriers. MISSION: To be the world’s leading provider of high-speed flight test services. VALUES: Deliver today. Grow for tomorrow. Accuracy and integrity always.
Exclusive: Buyer of Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch space venture is secretive Trump allyBy Mark Harris on December 11, 2019 at 10:36 amThe new owner of Stratolaunch, the space venture started by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is Steve Feinberg, a secretive billionaire with close ties to President Trump.
Quote Exclusive: Buyer of Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch space venture is secretive Trump allyBy Mark Harris on December 11, 2019 at 10:36 amThe new owner of Stratolaunch, the space venture started by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is Steve Feinberg, a secretive billionaire with close ties to President Trump.https://www.geekwire.com/2019/exclusive-buyer-paul-allens-stratolaunch-space-venture-secretive-trump-ally/
All the jobs currently listed on Stratolaunch website are at its Mojave flight facility, raising the possibility that the company’s Seattle office is living on borrowed time. Job descriptions make no mention of satellite launches, instead noting that “Stratolaunch is developing an air-launch platform to contribute to high-speed research and development.”
Stratolaunch Was Crafting Hypersonic Vehicles Before Its Official Pivot To High-Speed TestingThis past work is more relevant than ever now that the company says it is switching from focusing on space launches to hypersonic testing services.BY JOSEPH TREVITHICKJANUARY 21, 2020A research paper shows that Stratolaunch, the company that owns the world's largest airplane, the Roc, was exploring using it as a platform to launch hypersonic research vehicles, in addition to space launch systems, more than a year ago. Last month, the firm, under new ownership following the death of founder Paul Allen, also co-founder of Microsoft, reportedly shifted toward primarily offering hypersonic test support rather than space launch services, which makes this work especially relevant now.
Stratolaunch Air-Launched Hypersonic TestbedStephen Corda1, Curtis M. Longo2, and Zachary C. Krevor3Stratolaunch Systems Corp., Seattle, WA, 98104, USAStratolaunch Systems is exploring the development of aerospace vehicles and technologies to fulfill several important national needs, including the need for reliable, routine access to space. This exploration includes the need to significantly advance the nation’s ability to design and operate hypersonic vehicles. Aligned with these goals, Stratolaunch is in the early development stages of an unmanned, autonomous, reusable hypersonic testbed, to be air- launched from the Stratolaunch carrier aircraft, the largest aircraft, by wingspan, ever built. Powered by a Stratolaunch-developed liquid-propellant rocket engine, the Stratolaunch hypersonic testbed is capable of accelerating to hypersonic speeds, then gliding to an autonomous, horizontal landing on a conventional runway. The Stratolaunch hypersonic testbed offers heretofore unobtainable hypersonic test capabilities, which may provide the quickest and most efficient path for transitioning hypersonic technology from the research environment to operational applications. The Stratolaunch carrier aircraft is described, including its nominal mission parameters and payload-carrying capabilities. Conceptual design details of a Mach 10-class Stratolaunch hypersonic testbed are discussed, including its aerodynamics, performance, propulsion system, and sub-systems packaging. Plans for the development of a smaller, Mach 6-class hypersonic testbed are also briefly described.
Although Stratolaunch has been mostly mum about its plans going forward, today it responded to news reports reviewing its previous hypersonic plans. “Stratolaunch is exploring the development of aerospace vehicles and technologies, including the need for reliable, routine access to space. This exploration includes the need to significantly advance the nation’s ability to design and operate hypersonic vehicles,” company spokesman Art Pettigrue said in a statement emailed to GeekWire.
A research paper shows that Stratolaunch, the company that owns the world's largest airplane, the Roc, was exploring using it as a platform to launch hypersonic research vehicles, in addition to space launch systems, more than a year ago. Last month, the firm, under new ownership following the death of founder Paul Allen, also co-founder of Microsoft, reportedly shifted toward primarily offering hypersonic test support rather than space launch services, which makes this work especially relevant now.
We are honored @Stratolaunch has been named a finalist for the prestigious @NatlAero 2019 Robert J. Collier Trophy in recognition of the engineering achievement of the Stratolaunch Carrier Aircraft. Congrats to all 2019 nominees! #stratolaunch #scaledc #thinkbig #breakingbarriers
