Stratolaunch

So no ideas as to when it will be dropped for flight TomS? Perhaps it will be sooner than we think.
 
Roc can actually carry the Space Shuttle. Originally, Burt Rutan almost had Fedex and UPS interested in the capability to move oversized cargo and a plan for a large, cylinderical aero-pod to haul lots of cargo. The problem with Roc are bases of operation, identified locations required a lot of additional taxi way, apron/hammerhead space in order to ground handle and move the aircraft around.
 
Hydroman said:
Roc can actually carry the Space Shuttle. Originally, Burt Rutan almost had Fedex and UPS interested in the capability to move oversized cargo and a plan for a large, cylinderical aero-pod to haul lots of cargo. The problem with Roc are bases of operation, identified locations required a lot of additional taxi way, apron/hammerhead space in order to ground handle and move the aircraft around
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Only mass-wise, not configuration wise
 
Perhaps a large bladder of water for firefighting---bursts at ground level.
 
Boxman said:
This footage of Talon-A's first powered flight ("TA-1 First Flight") on March 9, 2024, was just posted today (26-March-2024) by Stratolaunch. It includes some interesting views inside the cockpit, as well.
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Something I noticed in the video is that the display screens in both the cockpit and payload specialist's station were blurred which is weird since the Strolaunch aircraft is civilian not military.
 
Altitude, speed, heading, time and location of release are better to be kept confidential for future missions where such data can be used to track back performances and trajectory.
 
NMaude said:
Something I noticed in the video is that the display screens in both the cockpit and payload specialist's station were blurred which is weird since the Strolaunch aircraft is civilian not military.
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Stratolaunch has a contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory for the work it is doing on Talon A. They note in the Talon A press release that certain info is not being released due to agreements with their customer.
 
I wonder which is going to win the space race...Stratolaunch or Sierra Space ?
 
NMaude said:
Something I noticed in the video is that the display screens in both the cockpit and payload specialist's station were blurred which is weird since the Strolaunch aircraft is civilian not military.
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Propriety
 
Forest Green said:
Says that Falcon 9 V1.0 weighs 734,000lb and Stratolaunch payload is up to 550,000lb.
.
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At one point in its evolution, Stratolaunch planned for a version of Falcon 9 as its launch vehicle. It was a severely cut-down version with only 4 or 5 engines in the first stage.

And Stratolaunch did have vague plans for a reusable space plane but no hardware as yet.

As Byeman says, nothing in Stratolaunch's current portfolio is remotely comparable to Sierra Space's Dream Chaser. And Dream Chaser is just about ready to fly.
 
topspeed3 said:
Stratolaunch is perfectly capable of carrying a manned rocket that could reach the orbit.
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a. They still are not the same type of vehicle or program. Stratolaunch is just a carrier aircraft at this time. Sierra is building a spacecraft.
b. A capability is meaningless if there is no project in work
c. Stratolaunch has no such plans at this time
b. And if Stratolaunch does not provide vehicle that would be carried by the Roc that makes into orbit, then the capabiitie's is not Stratolaunch's but the company that provides the vehicle.
 
That’s what I recall.

Then there was a solid was proposed for a tiny Dream Chaser type deal.

No rock tornadoes for air launch.

I wonder if a 550,000 bomb could defeat any bunker.
 
topspeed3 said:
Yes but you don't need that much of fuel nor two stages as you are already in stratosphere close to mach 1. I mean if you have a "SSTO" type craft.
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you would need more than one stage. The altitude and velocity provide little advantage (especially the actual altitude). The real advantage is the reduced drag from the lower atmospheric density.
 
topspeed3 said:
Why ?
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As I explained. The altitude and velocity from the carrier aircraft provide little advantage. Altitude is less than 5% of the final and velocity is less than 3% of the final. But the air density is less than 25% sea level.
 
Byeman said:
As I explained. The altitude and velocity from the carrier aircraft provide little advantage. Altitude is less than 5% of the final and velocity is less than 3% of the final. But the air density is less than 25% sea level.
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But the landing gear is lighter ( than in real SSTO) and you can have very light wing loading in re-entry.
 
Byeman said:
a. They still are not the same type of vehicle or program. Stratolaunch is just a carrier aircraft at this time. Sierra is building a spacecraft.
b. A capability is meaningless if there is no project in work
c. Stratolaunch has no such plans at this time
b. And if Stratolaunch does not provide vehicle that would be carried by the Roc that makes into orbit, then the capabiitie's is not Stratolaunch's but the company that provides the vehicle.
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Stratolaunch can be rented I assume.
 
PLEASE FOLKS... Stratolaunch is NOT the name of an aircraft, it is the name of the company that Paul Allen created.

The aircraft produced by Scaled Composites for Stratolaunch is called the Roc, also known as the Model 351.
 

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topspeed3 said:
But the landing gear is lighter ( than in real SSTO) and you can have very light wing loading in re-entry.
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Not enough advantage. That is why they wanted a Falcon 5 as a drop rocket at the beginning.
And, it would not have been able to carry a DreamChaser size spacecraft.
Wing loading has no bearing on getting to orbit.
 
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