Stratolaunch

About Stratolaunch:

The Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch is an aircraft built for Stratolaunch Systems by Scaled Composites to carry air-launch-to-orbit rockets. It was announced in December 2011 and rolled out in May 2017.[1] The aircraft features a twin-fuselage design and the longest wingspan ever flown, at 385 feet (117 m), surpassing the Hughes H-4 Hercules flying boat of 321 feet (98 m). The Stratolaunch is intended to carry a 550,000-pound (250 t) payload and has a 1,300,000-pound (590 t) maximum takeoff weight. It should release its rocket at 35,000 ft (11,000 m).[2]

The aircraft flew for the first and so far only time on April 13, 2019, and shortly thereafter, the company announced it would halt development of its air-launched family of launch vehicles following the death of Stratolaunch founder Paul Allen in October 2018.[3] The company ceased operations the next month, and placed all company assets, including the aircraft, for sale for US$400 million by June 2019.[4]Cerberus Capital Management acquired Stratolaunch Systems including the Stratolaunch aircraft in October 2019.[5] Stratolaunch announced in December 2019 that it would now be focusing on offering high-speed flight test services.[6]

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