Stratolaunch

So the soviets were wrong then ?
Did they build one to valid the concept? And a drop tank on vehicle means it is not SSTO.

And the point of discussion before you went off on a tangent. Sierra will win the "space race". Stratolaunch has no orbital capability in work. Sierra has a spacecraft that will be delivered to the launch site this year
 
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Unless I missed something, there is still a full mission profile to be flown before they can deem it a reusable test bed. To my knowledge, no landing have been demonstrated.

Just wondering b/w, why hasn't Boeing offered an atmospheric X-37?*

 
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Unless I missed something, there is still a full mission profile to be flown before they can deem it a reusable test bed. To my knowledge, no landing have been demonstrated.

Just wondering b/w, why hasn't Boeing offered an atmospheric X-37?
What is that exactly? What is there to "offered"? What need is there?
X-37 is a spacecraft. it has little propulsion capability. It is only aerodynamic enough to glide from entry. It is not meant for sustained atmospheric flight.
 
good side and front view of Talon-A:

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The debate rages on, and one of these days I'm going to crunch some numbers of my own.
What can't be disputed is the minimal altitude and velocty gains you get (5% and 3%), but if you save 3% of your rocket fuel you do get a compounding effect.
What interests me more is the idea that launching into an atmosphere of only 25% ground level should open up the possibility of using air breathing jets to get up to Mach 5, so now you're at 20% of orbital velocity and you haven't had to use up any oxidiser yet.
The gains aren't game changing, but still useful.
 
The debate rages on, and one of these days I'm going to crunch some numbers of my own.
What can't be disputed is the minimal altitude and velocty gains you get (5% and 3%), but if you save 3% of your rocket fuel you do get a compounding effect.
It doesn't really compound because the horizontal mounting leads to design inefficiencies and compromises.

What interests me more is the idea that launching into an atmosphere of only 25% ground level should open up the possibility of using air breathing jets to get up to Mach 5, so now you're at 20% of orbital velocity and you haven't had to use up any oxidiser yet.The debate rages on, and one of these days I'm going to crunch some numbers of my own.
the issue is that there are no off the shelf jet engines. and it needs to be less than 25% atmosphere due to heating
 
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I still don't understand why we need a 250 mt hypersonic testbed... what, it weights 2.5 mt ? 0.25 mt ? so why use Roc to launch it then ?
Verifying the flex models for what happens when you drop a couple tons from the center wing.


Talon A is 2.7 tons, for which Roc is clearly overkill. They propose to be able to launch three at a time, which would be an interesting test scenario, but not exactly one in high demand.

They've also got in mind the end state Talon Z, supposedly an orbital payload delivery platform. But then you're back to wondering how this is better that Virgin Orbit. Or, indeed, any number of low-cost launchers.
Roc is available and designed for purpose, if expensive to use as a launcher.

I'm assuming that Talon A is mostly getting done to keep money flowing and to verify their flex models as they drop things from the center wing under flight loads.



If it is true that AN-225 is no more...Roc is the Only big 6 jet flying...yes, B-52 has 8, I know...
Bit of a difference between 8x17klbs on the B52 and 6x56klbs on the Roc.



They could at least have dropped a 250 mt mockup. It would justify the giganormous carrier a little better.
Gotta make sure their models for how the center wing responds to the drop are accurate with lighter stuff first.


look that news from Stratolaunch
i afraid the days of the Roc are number (the Carrier plane not Actor)

View: https://twitter.com/Stratolaunch/status/1661765488324558848
Different jobs. Ah, and Cosmic Girl is just using the "engine transport pylon" already existing on the 747.


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For the up-engining, I'd look at keeping the same engine models (PW4000s), but going to the bigger fan diameters. It's currently running PW4056s that have a 94" diameter fan, though they could trade engine models to 62klbs thrust without too much work. The trivial step up would be to the 100" fan versions that make about 68klbs, that were designed for the Airbus 330. The Fecking 'Uge! step up would be to the 112" fan versions that make 74k-98klb thrust each, designed for the 777.

Yeah. Six engines as used on a 777.
 
That would require a major design change in the 777's wing-structure in order for each wing to be able to accommodate three engines instead of one engine.
No, putting those engines on the Roc wings. (Though I suspect that the Roc outer wings are straight off a 747 and just using the carry pylon inboard of the engines as a power pylon on both sides.)
 
All it takes is $$$$. ROC was built with a lot of take-off components from a couple of retired B747s, thus the 4056 engines.
Yup. But I'm sure there's a few early 777s coming up on retirement soon that could donate their engines, if Stratolaunch gets something to drop that's big enough to require more horsepower.
 
Think that second Antonov 225 could handle those?

Less spindly.

It is still in pieces. A cranked upward, gull like re-design for wings that still allow for good ground clearance just in case an even higher bypass monster comes along.

Unlike Roc, this could be used for normal cargo missions.

Keep the top mount Buran type hard points...just in case someone needs a trawler flown to a new port ;)
 
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View: https://twitter.com/stratolaunch/status/1796199286142857293


Today Roc begins its flight envelope expansion series, the 16th flight for the world’s largest aircraft. This test series is an effort to advance the demonstrated capabilities and performance of the aircraft, and ultimately expand the Talon-A hypersonic testbed’s performance range. We’re also utilizing the series to train new team members on flight operations, and to keep our current operations team sharp as we prepare for TA-2’s flight later this year.
 
Stratolaunch has just released a video concerning the upcoming TA-2 test-flight:


Talon-A2 is Stratolaunch’s first recoverable autonomous hypersonic testbed designed to repeatedly air launch, fly a hypersonic trajectory, and land on a standard runway. It represents a new era of low-risk, affordable, and routine access to the hypersonic environment. Take a look inside Stratolaunch’s preparation for various aspects of this historic flight, including expanding capabilities of the air launch platform and world’s largest flight aircraft Roc, and verifying Talon-A2’s various subsystems and landing hardware.
 
It's really great to see that Paul Allen's passing didn't put an end to Stratolaunch's activities, and that the Roc is performing the duties it was always meant to! And just like SpaceX is currently undermining Boeing's efforts, Stratolaunch proves that upcoming smaller companies can get more stuff done, better and at a lesser cost than the giant dinosaurs of the game.
 
Think also that they have ownership of Roc but also all the relevant assets and crew. Better use it and build experience to path the way for revenue making operations than have all that stuck on the ground costing millions for not much.
 
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Yes and actually the TA vehicle program was an adroit pivot for the company, given that PA’s sister wanted to shut down the whole operation after he died. ROC is something of a national asset, given its 580,000 lb. lift capacity. I’m sure other uses will be identified in the coming years that will take advantage of its capabilities.
 
Hypersonic Flight Testing | Behind the Wings on PBS

November 29, 2024
Hypersonic flight remains one of aviation's most elusive challenges. Defined by speeds greater than Mach 5, it is a realm where air becomes fire and the laws of physics wage war against human ambition. Against a rapidly progressing global competitive landscape, the need for repeatable hypersonic flight testing is greater than ever. Meet the Stratolaunch Roc, the largest operational aircraft in the world. From its development history to the engineering firsts along the way, Roc, and the missions it enables, are unlike anything else on Earth.

Directed by Cray Novick. Hosted by Tracy LaTourrette

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMaDLTGnaPU
 

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