Billionaire
and co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen, has just unveiled the world's biggest
plane, possessing a wing span longer than an entire football field. The
Stratolaunch carrier plane rolled out of its hangar and in to public view at
the Mojave Air and Space Port in California on Wednesday to undergo fueling
tests.
The
giant plane is designed to launch rockets into orbit from an altitude of around
30,000 feet. It has a wingspan of 385 feet (117 m), a length of 238 feet (72 m)
and a tail height of 50 feet (15 m).
According
to Stratolaunch Systems Corporation, the plane uses six Boeing 747 engines
built by Pratt & Whitney and has a maximum payload capacity of
approximately 550,000 lbs.
Jean
Floyd, Chief Executive Officer of Stratolaunch Systems, wrote in a statement
Wednesday that the fuel testing "marks a historic step in our work to
achieve Paul G. Allen's vision of normalizing access to low Earth orbit."
Stratolaunch
previously announced that it will initially launch a single Orbital ATK Pegasus
XL rocket, but the firm intends that the plane could ultimately launch up to 3
satellite rockets in one flight.
"Over
the coming weeks and months, we'll be actively conducting ground and flightline
testing at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
"This
is a first-of-its-kind aircraft, so we're going to be diligent throughout testing
and continue to prioritize the safety of our pilots, crew and staff," said
Jean Floyd. He added that Stratolaunch is on track to perform its first launch
demonstration in early 2019.
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