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Stratolaunch rollout!
Hello All,
Paul Allen’s huge twin-fuselage, six-turbofan-powered Stratolaunch aircraft, a general-purpose “flying launch pad,” was rolled out yesterday (see: www.google.com/#q=Stratolaunch ). The aircraft is able to air-launch single or multiple solid propellant or liquid propellant (or hybrid propellant) satellite launch vehicles at jetliner altitudes and speeds, giving them a head-start boost and reducing the drag and gravity losses that ground-launched rockets experience. The Stratolaunch aircraft will also be able to launch orbital space planes (“assisted SSTO [Single-Stage-To-Orbit]” reusable winged spacecraft), which have been designed but not yet built, largely because no suitable launching aircraft was available—until now.
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR |
#2
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I've been rather dubious of the entire Stratolaunch concept from the get-go. Too many problems with it for very little advantage.
Let's just say, "I'll believe it when I see it". At least his super-plane can be an alternative to Antonov... Later! OL J R
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The X-87B Cruise Basselope-- THE Ultimate Weapon in the arsenal of Homeland Security and only $52 million per round! |
#3
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I asked Burt if I could buy or lease a White Knight 1 for my motors. He only allowed internal projects AND WOULDN'T PAY FOR MOTORS. Stratolaunch has become desperate since the internal motor project has failed continuously. Now they are considering Pegasus and other third party propulsion systems. Finally the plane will actually get used.
I stand ready to produce the motors I quoted for SS1 for current SS2 in 8-12 weeks from order. Can you hear me Scaled Composites? The benefit of air launch is real. Just Jerry Last edited by Jerry Irvine : 06-02-2017 at 11:44 AM. |
#4
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Quote:
Doug .
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YORF member #11 |
#5
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That design allows for motor ignition from the plane and relanding a non-deployed rocket for mil apps. Target altitude 50-80k depending on payload mass. Note many engines and huge wings. Not for long haul flights at all. Last edited by Jerry Irvine : 06-02-2017 at 11:50 AM. |
#6
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Quote:
Plus, the first stage nozzles of stratosphere-launched rockets can be vacuum-optimized for maximum efficiency, and the high subsonic velocity imparted by the launch aircraft gives the vehicles a significant "head start." In addition: Despite its higher-than-hoped-for unit cost (which its relatively low launch rate, and the high maintenance costs for its old Lockheed L-1011 launch aircraft, combine to cause [its launch rate is gradually increasing as satellite miniaturization becomes easier]), NASA and other users like Pegasus because of the other advantages of air-launching: The launch times (launch windows) and drop locations are flexible, countdown recycles--with or ^without^ having to land between launch attempts--are easy, right up until the single-use fin actuator batteries are activated seconds before drop (the plane flies a "racetrack" pattern while setting up for the next drop attempt), and Pegasus can literally "come to the customer" for payload integration, which greatly simplifies logistics and saves a lot of money for the satellite owner(s). For smaller space agencies and private satellite firms, this is no small convenience. The importance of this particular advantage became clear when Pegasus launched its first international payload, a Spanish scientific satellite (see: http://www.google.com/#q=Pegasus+wa...+Canary+Islands ), which involved having the L-1011 take off from the Canary Islands. Up until now, the available launch aircraft have been rather marginal. Over the years, larger expendable air-launched SLVs (and reusable air-launched winged orbital spacecraft) have been designed by Richard Salkeld, Len Cormier, Dan DeLong, Boeing, Teledyne Brown Corporation, and others, but the lack of "stock" aircraft with sufficient performance and structural margins was a large factor in keeping these air-launched designs confined to drawings. (To give two examples, Teledyne Brown's space plane was designed for launch from the back of a 747, but its range and loiter time were very limited, while a Boeing space plane design required its 747 carrier to incorporate a Space Shuttle Main Engine in its tail to provide a boost at launch!) With a large, "universal" flying launch pad now available, these and other expendable and reusable air-launched space vehicles will now be not just feasible, but practical.
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR |
#7
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XS-1 is LOX LH2 to overcome that.
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#8
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Quote:
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR |
#9
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What does your statement "XS-1 is LOX LH2 to overcome that." in Reply #7 refer to?
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Black Shire--Draft horse in human form, model rocketeer, occasional mystic, and writer, see: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperba...an-form/8075185 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6122050 http://www.lulu.com/product/cd/what...of-2%29/6126511 All of my book proceeds go to the Northcote Heavy Horse Centre www.northcotehorses.com. NAR #54895 SR |
#10
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Quote:
Last edited by Jerry Irvine : 06-10-2017 at 08:31 AM. |
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