Scaled Composites Stratolaunch
Mother ship aircraft designed to launch spacecraft / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch or Roc is an aircraft built by Scaled Composites for Stratolaunch Systems to carry air-launch-to-orbit (ALTO) rockets, and subsequently repurposed to offer air launch hypersonic flight testing after a change of ownership. It was announced in December 2011, rolled out in May 2017,[1] and flew for the first time on April 13, 2019, shortly after the death of founder Paul Allen. The aircraft features a twin-fuselage design and the longest wingspan ever flown, at 385 feet (117 m), surpassing the Hughes H-4 Hercules "Spruce Goose" flying boat of 321 feet (98 m). The Stratolaunch is intended to carry a 550,000-pound (250 t) payload and has a 1,300,000-pound (590 t) maximum takeoff weight.
Stratolaunch | |
---|---|
Roc carrying the Talon-A hypersonic testbed | |
Role | Mother ship aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Scaled Composites |
First flight | April 13, 2019[1] |
Primary user | Stratolaunch Systems |
Number built | 1 |
Career | |
Other name(s) | Roc |
Registration | N351SL |
Flights | 13 |
The company ceased operations in May 2019, shortly after the first flight,[2] and placed all company assets, including the aircraft, for sale by June 2019.[3] In October 2019, Cerberus Capital Management acquired Stratolaunch Systems, including the Stratolaunch aircraft.[4] Stratolaunch announced in December 2019 that it would now be focusing on offering high-speed flight test services.[5] As of February 2024[update], the Stratolaunch has flown thirteen times.[6]