Tag: Stratolaunch
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Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch flies world’s biggest plane for the first time: ‘Paul would have been proud’
Stratolaunch’s twin-fuselage airplane makes its first flight. (Stratolaunch Photo) Stratolaunch, the aerospace venture founded by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, sent the world’s biggest airplane into the air today for its first flight test. The twin-fuselage plane, which incorporates parts from two Boeing 747 jumbo jets and has a world-record wingspan of 385 feet,…
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Roc – the world’s largest plane – takes flight ahead of Stratolaunch rocket goals
The “Roc” – Stratolaunch Systems Corporation’s air-launch carrier plane – has conducted its first test flight over the Mojave Desert in California. The world’s largest plane has been years in development ahead of Saturday’s major milestone as it flew for 2.5 hours without issue. It will eventually carry up to three Pegasus rockets, the first two…
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FAA certificate offers new details on Stratolaunch’s plans for test flights of world’s largest aircraft
Stratolaunch’s giant airplane sits on the tarmac at California’s Mojave Air and Space Port. (Stratolaunch Photo) The Federal Aviation Administration has cleared the world’s largest airplane for takeoff — but it’s not yet clear exactly when Stratolaunch, the aerospace venture founded by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, will put the plane in the air.…
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Stratolaunch space venture sharply scales back its operations, months after Paul Allen’s death
A photo taken during a high-speed taxi test shows the nose gear on Stratolaunch’s twin-fuselage airplane rising from the runway at California’s Mojave Air and Space Port. (Stratolaunch Photo) Stratolaunch, the Seattle-based space venture created by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen seven years ago, says it’s discontinuing its programs to develop a new type of rocket…
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Stratolaunch gets world’s biggest airplane ready for takeoff with 136 mph taxi test
A photo taken during a high-speed taxi test shows the nose gear on Stratolaunch’s twin-fuselage airplane rising from the runway at California’s Mojave Air and Space Port. (Stratolaunch Photo) Stratolaunch, the aerospace venture created by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, says its twin-fuselage, six-engine aircraft raced as fast as 136 mph down the runway at California’s…
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On the fast track: Stratolaunch says its rocket engine preburner has hit full power
The preburner for Stratolaunch’s PGA rocket engine blazes during a hot-fire test. (Stratolaunch via Twitter) Chalk up another milestone for Stratolaunch Systems’ rocket engine development effort: The Seattle-based space company founded by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen says it ramped up the preburner for its PGA rocket engine to full power this week during hot-fire…
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PGA engine tests the latest milestone for Stratolaunch
Stratolaunch systems continue to progress towards their first launch by completing the first hot-fire tests of the PGA engine preburner. This milestone marks the beginning of development for Stratolaunch’s in-house rockets that are planned to air launch from their massive carrier aircraft. The tests are being conducted at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi earlier…
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Stratolaunch completes milestone preburner test firing for PGA rocket engine
A full-scale fuel preburner for Stratolaunch’s PGA rocket engine undergoes a test firing at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. (Stratolaunch Photo) Stratolaunch Systems, the space venture founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, says it has successfully completed the first hot-fire test of a key component for its hydrogen-fueled PGA rocket engine. The full-scale hydrogen…
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Paul Allen’s passing leaves unfinished business on Stratolaunch’s space frontier
Paul Allen stands on the wing of the giant Stratolaunch plane during a March 2017 tour of the hangar in Mojave, Calif., where the craft was being assembled. The plane’s tail is in the background. (Paul Allen via Twitter) Seattle billionaire philanthropist Paul Allen’s death comes just as his Stratolaunch space venture is counting down…
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Paul Allen’s giant Stratolaunch plane gets closer to first flight with 80 mph taxi test
Mountains loom in the distance as Stratolaunch Systems’ twin-fuselage airplane is taken out for testing at California’s Mojave Air and Space Port. (Stratolaunch Photo via Twitter) The world’s biggest airplane, built by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch Systems, is one step closer to making its first flight after buzzing down the runway at California’s Mojave…