- General
- June 1, 2019
- 5 minutes read
Stratolaunch Said To Be Shutting Down
The Stratolaunch aircraft hits the skies image: Stratolaunch Stratolaunch, the space company launched by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is…
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| The Stratolaunch aircraft hits the skies
image: Stratolaunch
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Stratolaunch, the space company launched by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is shutting operations according to a Reuters report that cites four people familiar with the matter. This would entail a cut in ambitious plans to battle traditional aerospace companies with a new approach. Stratolaunch is known for its large plane (actually the world’s largest) comprising twin fuselages and six jet engines that it planned to use to launch satellites into orbit.
The enormous airplane weights 227,000 kilograms and is capable of lifting close to 250,000 kg of load with up to three rockets beneath the wing at its center. It was built by Scaled Composites, a company launched by famous American aerospace engineer Burt Rutan that also built the experimental SpaceShipOne rocket-powered aircraft which won the Ansari X Prize in 2004. Scaled Composites — acquired by Northrop Grumman back in 2007 — is one of the world’s most well known aircraft design and prototyping partners.
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| The Stratolaunch aircraft has a wingspan totaling 385 feet (117 meters), longer than that of any other aircraft.
image: Stratolaunch
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Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen who launched Stratolaunch in 2011, died at age 65 in October. Reuters’ report says Vulcan Inc — an investment vehicle set up by Allen that also serves as parent company for Stratolaunch — is exploring a possible sale of the space company’s assets and intellectual property.
