World's biggest plane, Stratolaunch, marks another key milestone

[Cow Poke]

But how much fuel does each method take? If the Plane uses significantly less fuel per pound of payload compared to a straight rocket like SpaceX then it is still a good idea.

I don't doubt it's a good idea at all - and I think that's the biggest advantage, to overcome earth gravity by flight rather than sheer thrust.

[Sparko]

OK, according to StratoLaunch's own website, here are the stats...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]26790[/ATTACH]

And from that website you can go to Paul Allen's LinkedIn page, where he says...

Stratolaunch will be the first air-launch platform of this scale and will rank among the largest aircraft in history – its wingspan alone will stretch the length of a football field. Built primarily of strong yet light carbon fiber and powered by six 747 engines, Stratolaunch will be able to carry up to 550,000 pounds of payload and offer its customers a consistent, flexible and viable alternative to traditional ground-launched rockets.

So, max takeoff weight of 1.3 million pounds, payload of half a million pounds.

but that "payload" would have to include a rocket and the rocket's payload (satellite) since it launched the rocket which then carries the satellite to orbit.

[Cow Poke]

but that "payload" would have to include a rocket and the rocket's payload (satellite) since it launched the rocket which then carries the satellite to orbit.

Correct - the plane's own "payload" would be the launch rocket and the rocket's payload, which would need far less fuel launched from altitude than from a static "sheer thrust" state.

[Sparko]

Correct - the plane's own "payload" would be the launch rocket and the rocket's payload, which would need far less fuel launched from altitude than from a static "sheer thrust" state.

They should use giant blimps to lift the plane into the air which carries the rocket which carries the satellite!

[Cow Poke]

They should use giant blimps to lift the plane into the air which carries the rocket which carries the satellite!

Interesting - a balloon airship (unmanned and rather primitive) actually set an altitude record for such craft by reaching 95,000 feet.

airshiprecord-1.jpg

[Sparko]

Interesting - a balloon airship (unmanned and rather primitive) actually set an altitude record for such craft by reaching 95,000 feet.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]26791[/ATTACH]

I think the only problem with launching rockets from a blimp would be the sudden fiery death of the blimp upon launch of the rocket. But if they could drop the rocket first and then fire it off it could work. If a blimp could carry the weight of a rocket.

[Cow Poke]

I think the only problem with launching rockets from a blimp would be the sudden fiery death of the blimp upon launch of the rocket. But if they could drop the rocket first and then fire it off it could work.

Like the good ol' X-15 launched from a B-52!

Because of the large fuel consumption of its rocket engine, the X-15 was air launched from a B-52 aircraft at about 45,000 feet and speeds upward of 500 mph. Depending on the mission, the rocket engine provided thrust for the first 80 to 120 seconds of flight. The remainder of the normal 8- to 12-minute flight was without power and ended in a 200-mph glide landing. Because the nose landing wheel lacked steering and the main landing gear employed skids, the X-15 had to land on a dry lakebed. The Rogers Dry Lake adjacent to Edwards and Dryden was the intended landing location for all flights, but there were numerous emergency lakebeds selected in advance for emergency landings.

Them were fun days!


(of course, it wasn't intended to go into space, but...)

[rogue06]

Like the good ol' X-15 launched from a B-52!

Because of the large fuel consumption of its rocket engine, the X-15 was air launched from a B-52 aircraft at about 45,000 feet and speeds upward of 500 mph. Depending on the mission, the rocket engine provided thrust for the first 80 to 120 seconds of flight. The remainder of the normal 8- to 12-minute flight was without power and ended in a 200-mph glide landing. Because the nose landing wheel lacked steering and the main landing gear employed skids, the X-15 had to land on a dry lakebed. The Rogers Dry Lake adjacent to Edwards and Dryden was the intended landing location for all flights, but there were numerous emergency lakebeds selected in advance for emergency landings.

Them were fun days!


(of course, it wasn't intended to go into space, but...)

Or more recently, the launching of the Space Shuttle off of a custom 747 aircraft

[Cow Poke]

Or more recently, the launching of the Space Shuttle off of a custom 747 aircraft

Yeah, that seems more Challenging (get it?) than just "dropping" one from the carrier. It seems like the risk is to both of those aircraft, where as just "dropping one" clears both immediately.

[rogue06]

Yeah, that seems more Challenging (get it?) than just "dropping" one from the carrier. It seems like the risk is to both of those aircraft, where as just "dropping one" clears both immediately.

I shall make a Resolution to Endeavor to Discover a way to do so.

[Cow Poke]

I shall make a Resolution to Endeavor to Discover a way to do so.

Next, you'll be claiming you have Discovered the Lost City of Atlantis.

[oxmixmudd]

"the aircraft is intended to carry up to 550,000 pounds to an altitude of 35,000 feet. "

Not sure if that is gross payload (in which case the cargo would be 50klb) or net.

So - the argument for 1-2 percent means starting at sea level. So how much of that 98 percent is reduced by taking off 6 miles of altitude and adding 4 or 500 miles per hour to the initial velocity? The percentage reduction could theoretcially become payload.

Jim

[Cow Poke]

So - the argument for 1-2 percent means starting at sea level. So how much of that 98 percent is reduced by taking off 6 miles of altitude and adding 4 or 500 miles per hour to the initial velocity? The percentage reduction could theoretcially become payload.

Jim

Not only are we not taking off at sea level anymore (in this scenario), but the carried vehicle is also not having to generate pure upward anti-gravity thrust with zero aerodynamic lift - I think that would be an additional factor.

(Not sure I worded that right - we're not just changing from a "dead lift" at sea level to a "dead lift" at altitude)

[Christianbookworm]

Were space shuttles actually launched from airplanes? I thought that was just in a movie. It didn't work out to well in the movie either.

[Sparko]

Were space shuttles actually launched from airplanes? I thought that was just in a movie. It didn't work out to well in the movie either.

The Enterprise was the first space shuttle. It didn't have working engines. They just launched it from the plane to test it's gliding and landing ability.