Scaled Composites Stratolaunch

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Stratolaunch carrier aircraft
Stratolaunch-apogee.jpg
Artist's depiction of Stratolaunch carrier at apogee, just before launching spacecraft (center vehicle) into orbit.
Role Space Launch Carrier
National origin United States of America
Manufacturer Scaled Composites
First flight projected for 2016
Status In development
Number built 1

The Scaled Composites Model 351 (nicknamed the "Roc"), is being built for Stratolaunch Systems to provide a platform from which air-launch space missions can be staged.[1] With a wingspan of 117 m (385 ft), the design has the longest wingspan of any airplane to date (July 2015).[2]

In August 2015, Scaled Composites president Kevin Mickey stated the company has so far assembled "roughly 200,000 pounds of composite structure" for the vehicle and if put on an American football field, "its wingtips would extend beyond the goalposts by 15 feet on each side."[3]

Each of the twin fuselages of the aircraft is 238 feet (72 metres) long and will be supported by 12 main landing gear wheels and two nose gear wheels. It will require 12,000 feet of runway to lift-off.[4]

As of November 2015, the rocket or payload for the mega aircraft has not been publicly announced, after two previous plans—SpaceX Falcon 9 Air and Orbital ATK Pegasus II rocket design concepts—had been shelved.

History

The project was started nearly a year prior to the December 2011 public announcement. Dynetics began work in early 2011, and had approximately 40 employees working on the project at the time of the announcement, as of December 2011. SpaceX efforts began only shortly prior to the public announcement.[5]

In January 2012, Stratolaunch CEO Gary Wentz made it explicit that Stratolaunch would name the carrier aircraft only later. The "mothership is currently known only by its Scaled model number: M351."[6]

Construction progress on the giant hangar being built in Mojave, California for the Stratolaunch Carrier Aircraft was given in an October 2012 story at Parabolic Arc.[7] The first of two manufacturing buildings, the "88,000 square foot facility [to] be used to construct the composite sections of the wing and fuselage sections" was opened for production in October 2012, two months ahead of schedule and on budget.[8]

In October 2013, the first flight of the carrier aircraft was expected in 2016, with the first flight of the air-launched rocket in 2018.[9]

As of April 2015, the aircraft was 40% complete, with fabrication of parts at 80%.[10] In November 2015, Stratolaunch CEO Gary Wentz "stepped down as president and CEO of Stratolaunch Systems to join United Launch Alliance to lead human launch services" for ULA. Vulcan Aerospace ended its contract with Orbital ATK in mid-2015 and indicated that a decision on a new rocket for the Stratolaunch Carrier Aircraft would be made in late 2015.[11]

Design

The Model 351 has a structural similarity to the Scaled Composites White Knight Two. It features two main fuselage sections joined with a common wing with a centrally mounted Mating and Integration System (MIS) capable of handling a 230,000 kg (500,000 lb) load and being developed by Dynetics. Each fuselage has its own horizontal and vertical stabilizer. Three engines are positioned on pylons outboard of each fuselage. The cockpit is positioned within the right fuselage.[12]

The aircraft will be powered by six 56,000 lbf (250 kN) Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines[13] that were obtained from "two used 747-400s that will be cannibalized for engines, avionics, flight deck, landing gear and other proven systems that can be recycled to cut development costs."[5] As of April 2012, two former United Airlines Boeing 747-400 aircraft (Serial numbers 28715 & 28716) have been acquired and are currently stored at the Mojave Air & Space Port.[14]

The primary launch cargo was originally slated be a multistage booster developed by SpaceX. However in December 2012 Stratolaunch announced that they had amicably parted company with SpaceX due to the design evolving away from a good fit with SpaceX's long-term business model. In late 2012 and early 2013, Stratolaunch worked with Orbital Sciences Corporation to develop an alternative rocket conceptual design.[15] By May 2013, Orbital was under contract to develop the Pegasus II for Stratolaunch, with a payload of 6,100 kg (13,500 pounds).[16]

The Orbital contract work was ended in mid-2015, and Stratolaunch has not publicly announced a new plan for the rocket or payload for the large aircraft as of November 2015.[11]

World's longest wingspan

Allen and aircraft initial[17] concept designer Burt Rutan stated that the carrier aircraft would have a wingspan of 117 m (385 ft),[18] This would make it the largest airplane, by wingspan, to ever fly.[19]

Specifications (Stratolaunch Systems Carrier)

Wingspan comparison of the Stratolaunch carrier with other large airplanes

Data from [20]

General characteristics

  • Length: 238 ft (73 m)
  • Wingspan: 385 ft (117 m)
  • Gross weight: 1,300,000 lb (589,670 kg)
  • Powerplant: 6 × Pratt & Whitney PW4056 turbofan, 56,750 lbf (252.4 kN) thrust each

See also

Related development

References

  1. ↑ http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/stratolaunch-orbital-air-launch/
  2. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3184219/World-s-biggest-plane-launch-2016-Designers-reveal-megaplane-send-astronauts-orbit-using-mini-shuttle.html
  3. ↑ http://www.engadget.com/2015/08/04/largest-plane-in-the-world-stratolaunch-test-flights-2016/
  4. ↑ http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/world-largest-plane-construction-calif-article-1.2131231
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Stratolaunch’s Plans Up in the Air, Jeff Foust, SpaceNews, 18 November 2015, accessed 28 November 2015.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Inside The Roc's Lair AviationWeek 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2015-09-20.

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Scaled_Composites_Stratolaunch&oldid=709794301"