World's Largest Airplane Will Carry A Variety Of Hypersonic Aircraft Aloft

Stratolaunch, a company that was founded by the late Paul Allen, is shifting its focus to hypersonic test beds carried aloft by its purpose-built aircraft.

The Stratolaunch aircraft had originally been built for horizontal-launch satellite missions, carrying a rocket to altitude which would then boost its payload into orbit. But the company was sold last year after Allen's death in 2018, and it has now relaunched with an updated website explaining its new mission.

"We believe that innovative flight research and testing programs are key to enabling our nation to develop emerging hypersonic technologies into operational systems," the company says on its website. "Our system is designed around the concept of iterative flight testing, enabling us to minimize your overall exposure to risk when it comes to mission cost, deployment schedule and technology investment."

The company is developing three hypersonic test-bed aircraft ranging from the Talon A, which is 28 feet long with an 11.3-foot wingspan, to the Black Ice, a fully reusable space plane that enables advanced on-orbit capabilities and cargo return. Initial designs optimized for cargo launch, with a follow-on variant capable of transporting crew.

"Our hypersonic testbeds will serve as a catalyst in sparking a renaissance in hypersonic technologies for our government, the commercial sector, and academia," said W Jean Floyd, Chief Executive Officer.

(Source: Stratolaunch. Images provided)

FMI: www.stratolaunch.com