Stratolaunch Systems Corporation has released more details about the payloads to be carried by the world’s largest aircraft. The company says its huge Stratolaunch aircraft, which has a 385ft (117m) wingspan, will be capable of airlaunching four types of delivery vehicles that will put satellites into orbit: the Northrop Grumman Pegasus and three proprietary launch vehicles developed by Stratolaunch Systems itself.
The Pegasus, which has an 815lb (370kg) payload capability, already has a track record of successful launches. Stratolaunch Systems says integration and testing is under way, with a first flight on the Stratolaunch aircraft targeted for 2020. The three Stratolaunch Systems-developed launch vehicles comprise a medium launch vehicle (MLV, with a 7,495lb/3,400kg payload), an MLV-Heavy (13,227lb/6,000kg payload), and a fully reusable space plane. The MLV is in development, with a first flight targeted for 2022, while the MLVHeavy is at an early development stage and the spaceplane at the design study stage.
The Stratolaunch aircraft undertook its first engine and low-speed taxi trials at Mojave, California in 2017. Stratolaunch Systems Corp, founded in 2011 by the billionaire Microsoft cofounder Paul G Allen, intends to begin regular commercial launch flights in 2020. The company has not yet given a first flight date for the aircraft. Mark Broadbent
