Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen announced some days ago one (more) of the most recognized collaborations: he will be joining efforts with Burt Rutan, the well-known aerospacial pioneer, to make the biggest plane ever built as an approach to commercial space transport.
It is not the first time they collaborate. In 2004, they launched the SpaceShipOne, the first manned spacial vehicle privately financed. Furthermore, they have other projects as the SpaceShipTwo, SpaceShipThree...
 |
| SpaceShipOne |
Stratolaunch Systems is the name of the company which is developing the aircraft. Allen illustrates us explaining the main components of the project:
- A carrier aircraft, developed by Scaled Composites, by Rutan.
- A multi-stage booster, manufactured by Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies.
- An integration system allowing the carrier to carry up to 200 tons in flight.
This flying titan is supposed to start testing phase on 2016. Some of the aircraft's numbers are absolutely amazing. The Space Ship is as big as a soccer stadium; it will be powered by six Boeing 747 motors; it will have a gross weight of more than 550 tons; for takeoff and landing, it will need a runway of more than 3.5 kilometers...
Here you have an explanatory video about Paul G. Allen's project:
I want to break the "it's impossible" limit.
Via OnOrbit alpha
Via New York Times
No comments:
Post a Comment