Four weeks ago, I wrote [about the Antonov An-225](https://steemit.com/aviation/@liberosist/the-largest-aircraft-never-made-may-be-revived) - calling it the largest aircraft ever made. Little did I know, Paul Allen's Stratolaunch Systems in collaboration with Scaled Composites had already built a working aircraft with the widest wingspan ever, outdoing the Antonov An-225 and the Spruce Goose. ![drone1_website.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWxeR8TyC9PtthfjUYLjukj5zKpWKzSXDtojEgEcevbuV/drone1_website.jpg) As it's name suggests, Stratolaunch is no ordinary aircraft. Or, as it's technically known, Scaled Composites Model-351, which gives away the manufacturer of the aircraft. It also gives away the fact that the entire aircraft is built using composite materials - no metal alloys to be seen here. That makes it the largest composites-based aircraft ever made as well. It has been designed for the single purpose of launching satellites and spacecrafts into... stratosphere. Air-launch-to-orbit. Stratolaunch is powered by no less than 6x Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines. Aviation enthusiasts will recognize that name - those are the engines that power the Boeing 747. Except, the Stratolaunch has 2 more! With a payload capacity of 500,000 lbs, it's designed to carry more than even the Antonov An-225. ![Stratolaunch_comparison.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSh3yijUcv1PytjC7SCxYEG2TDtzmtvB17RJR9NLoPJkH/Stratolaunch_comparison.png) The signature feature of the Stratolaunch, though, is its incredible 117m wingspan, spanning across a dual-fuselage body. That would be longer than an American football field! Though they haven't explained this design decision, it makes sense that a wide wingspan, double fuselage will offer greater structural integrity for carrying a heavy payload. ![drone3-website.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfKeKrRLB6YdEuhLnavBVPQ8eQyrzvqk9yCVTzcAEoZze/drone3-website.jpg) Needless to say, the hangar is custom built for Stratolaunch! The Stratolaunch system will be operational by 2020. If all goes according to plan, it will offer a viable alternative to traditional launches. Going the air-launch-to-orbit route means lower costs in the long run, and much reduced risk of costly last minute cancelations due weather and air/marine traffic anomalies. Stratolaunch will face intense competition from Virgin Galactic's LauncherOne. Learn more about Stratolaunch here - http://stratolaunch.com/. All images from there, comparison from Wikimedia.
post_id | 3,268,198 |
---|---|
author | liberosist |
permlink | stratolaunch-the-widest-aircraft-ever-made |
category | space |
json_metadata | "{"app": "steemit/0.1", "format": "markdown", "links": ["https://steemit.com/aviation/@liberosist/the-largest-aircraft-never-made-may-be-revived", "http://stratolaunch.com/"], "image": ["https://steemitimages.com/DQmWxeR8TyC9PtthfjUYLjukj5zKpWKzSXDtojEgEcevbuV/drone1_website.jpg"], "tags": ["space", "aviation", "aeronautics"]}" |
created | 2017-06-01 13:57:24 |
last_update | 2017-06-01 14:12:36 |
depth | 0 |
children | 8 |
net_rshares | 10,284,625,041,824 |
last_payout | 2017-06-08 13:57:24 |
cashout_time | 1969-12-31 23:59:59 |
total_payout_value | 99.326 SBD |
curator_payout_value | 11.918 SBD |
pending_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
promoted | 0.000 SBD |
body_length | 2,499 |
author_reputation | 128,495,787,068,198 |
root_title | "Stratolaunch - the widest aircraft ever made" |
beneficiaries | [] |
max_accepted_payout | 1,000,000.000 SBD |
percent_steem_dollars | 10,000 |
author_curate_reward | "" |
voter | weight | wgt% | rshares | pct | time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
fminerten | 0 | 481,952,437,308 | 30% | ||
fmooo | 0 | 39,082,865,673 | 30% | ||
steempty | 0 | 328,879,495,154 | 30% | ||
sandra | 0 | 25,782,625,420 | 70% | ||
ihashfury | 0 | 8,179,845,785 | 48.3% | ||
boy | 0 | 3,872,704,184 | 100% | ||
bue-witness | 0 | 4,722,108,746 | 100% | ||
bunny | 0 | 669,340,383 | 100% | ||
bue | 0 | 78,387,592,611 | 100% | ||
mini | 0 | 2,069,896,108 | 100% | ||
moon | 0 | 263,173,280 | 100% | ||
jason | 0 | 23,653,688,167 | 48.3% | ||
pheonike | 0 | 3,245,646,616 | 1.8% | ||
healthcare | 0 | 771,387,276 | 100% | ||
daniel.pan | 0 | 1,220,352,756 | 100% | ||
donkeypong | 0 | 999,038,015,507 | 100% | ||
helen.tan | 0 | 352,793,313 | 100% | ||
teamsteem | 0 | 1,385,679,930,964 | 30% | ||
kevinwong | 0 | 482,092,003,893 | 50% | ||
cryptofunk | 0 | 2,443,504,180 | 63% | ||
the-alien | 0 | 135,432,937,393 | 100% | ||
dahaz159 | 0 | 889,642,681 | 30% | ||
schro | 0 | 2,659,235,960 | 100% | ||
mark-waser | 0 | 50,744,124,652 | 100% | ||
joshbreslauer | 0 | 335,646,043,959 | 70% | ||
jaycobbell | 0 | 1,583,486,246 | 9% | ||
opheliafu | 0 | 20,965,512,294 | 31% | ||
liberosist | 0 | 344,157,590,340 | 100% | ||
bola | 0 | 2,343,455,069 | 5% | ||
exyle | 0 | 364,833,368,309 | 50% | ||
victoria2002 | 0 | 923,338,867 | 100% | ||
royalmacro | 0 | 30,114,534,004 | 90% | ||
pipokinha | 0 | 9,193,924,714 | 100% | ||
drbec | 0 | 720,047,284 | 100% | ||
craigslist | 0 | 521,957,338 | 100% | ||
aleksandraz | 0 | 33,168,655,763 | 100% | ||
dolov | 0 | 233,720,400 | 0.9% | ||
cristi | 0 | 88,048,049,543 | 100% | ||
jrcornel | 0 | 634,337,255,343 | 100% | ||
inv | 0 | 488,747,221,844 | 30% | ||
hanshotfirst | 0 | 276,201,968,035 | 40% | ||
virtualgrowth | 0 | 4,643,853,181 | 9% | ||
lemouth | 0 | 73,958,384,254 | 100% | ||
lamech-m | 0 | 1,496,717,747 | 30% | ||
neptun | 0 | 3,814,106,297 | 100% | ||
jyp | 0 | 195,461,053,143 | 100% | ||
rebel | 0 | 56,326,471 | 100% | ||
alaqrab | 0 | 13,604,360,385 | 100% | ||
davidjkelley | 0 | 2,498,399,399 | 100% | ||
digital-wisdom | 0 | 21,509,054,030 | 100% | ||
ethical-ai | 0 | 6,112,172,351 | 100% | ||
donato | 0 | 54,526,921 | 100% | ||
ruscion | 0 | 88,628,906 | 100% | ||
jwaser | 0 | 8,678,120,248 | 100% | ||
kyusho | 0 | 27,173,393,817 | 50% | ||
dubi | 0 | 75,879,783,824 | 100% | ||
abagendo | 0 | 54,987,644 | 100% | ||
bwaser | 0 | 3,063,011,269 | 100% | ||
ellepdub | 0 | 9,056,310,277 | 100% | ||
skt | 0 | 409,938,911,595 | 100% | ||
herpetologyguy | 0 | 88,646,619,549 | 100% | ||
orcish | 0 | 17,361,289,155 | 100% | ||
morgan.waser | 0 | 5,539,042,778 | 100% | ||
koskl | 0 | 3,524,259,409 | 100% | ||
thegame | 0 | 194,106,887 | 3% | ||
ssekulji | 0 | 12,393,183,974 | 100% | ||
steembets | 0 | 234,520,030 | 3% | ||
strong-ai | 0 | 6,086,790,824 | 100% | ||
siniceku | 0 | 1,643,354,132 | 100% | ||
cebymaster | 0 | 6,218,947,013 | 100% | ||
ninkhisibir | 0 | 5,252,535,906 | 100% | ||
katharsisdrill | 0 | 57,677,050,264 | 100% | ||
slider2990 | 0 | 41,000,163,303 | 100% | ||
very | 0 | 25,696,912,972 | 100% | ||
dongu | 0 | 1,942,839,338 | 100% | ||
mokluc | 0 | 1,032,535,883 | 50% | ||
steemland.com | 0 | 196,605,784 | 3% | ||
selwi | 0 | 340,362,325 | 50% | ||
siberianshamen | 0 | 234,830,728 | 100% | ||
jeezzle | 0 | 5,911,880,504 | 100% | ||
steemprentice | 0 | 4,770,614,534 | 9% | ||
technoprogressiv | 0 | 5,839,716,617 | 100% | ||
omarrium | 0 | 2,004,544,753 | 30% | ||
bottymcbotface | 0 | 194,803,056 | 50% | ||
beeskee | 0 | 14,500,547,479 | 100% | ||
azazqwe | 0 | 2,880,035,505 | 100% | ||
leongkhan | 0 | 44,419,276,266 | 100% | ||
darth-azrael | 0 | 3,483,038,726 | 42% | ||
marifa | 0 | 5,432,250,545 | 100% | ||
lukinsawyer | 0 | 362,319,495 | 30% | ||
eem | 0 | 67,501,561 | 34% | ||
vermute | 0 | 692,716,052 | 50% | ||
kuvo | 0 | 341,415,999 | 50% | ||
dunia | 0 | 661,384,797,588 | 100% | ||
darth-cryptic | 0 | 1,816,868,541 | 100% | ||
tarazkp | 0 | 4,569,296,377 | 30% | ||
eusebio | 0 | 439,108,920 | 100% | ||
incoqer | 0 | 360,682,365 | 100% | ||
fleur | 0 | 1,210,683,862 | 53% | ||
evildeathcore | 0 | 803,440,516 | 30% | ||
evimeria | 0 | 1,162,294,914 | 100% | ||
sjmstem | 0 | 424,601,063,526 | 100% | ||
anwarabdullah | 0 | 452,346,597 | 100% | ||
anton-kostroma | 0 | 7,454,512,639 | 100% | ||
trafalgar | 0 | 956,678,960,603 | 20% | ||
crawfish37 | 0 | 2,513,338,123 | 100% | ||
andrianna | 0 | 2,189,017,778 | 100% | ||
chasmic-cosm | 0 | 2,174,592,907 | 100% | ||
uradick | 0 | 244,476,661,989 | 100% | ||
looftee | 0 | 3,685,306,343 | 20% | ||
aismor | 0 | 762,662,425 | 100% | ||
urpiner | 0 | 1,236,245,318 | 100% | ||
nativo | 0 | 811,533,423 | 100% | ||
jongyeong | 0 | 11,105,999,779 | 100% | ||
sidwrites | 0 | 2,571,907,134 | 100% | ||
timothympratt | 0 | 1,223,686,501 | 100% | ||
szokerobert | 0 | 1,133,030,029 | 100% | ||
rdickey | 0 | 119,624,376 | 100% | ||
civis-mundi | 0 | 217,339,915 | 100% | ||
vandal | 0 | 16,408,870,936 | 100% | ||
thenightflier | 0 | 1,226,855,973 | 100% | ||
creutzy | 0 | 1,131,424,731 | 100% | ||
grande-fazial | 0 | 1,517,193,511 | 100% | ||
nairda | 0 | 2,970,138,781 | 100% | ||
jasonb1 | 0 | 1,457,290,640 | 100% | ||
ribalinux | 0 | 1,545,341,406 | 100% | ||
newprepper | 0 | 1,486,390,443 | 100% | ||
schro.one | 0 | 2,286,937,349 | 100% | ||
budimir | 0 | 424,386,763 | 100% | ||
leomichael | 0 | 239,322,952 | 100% | ||
daddykirbs | 0 | 1,691,695,384 | 100% |
Very interesting! Nice graphics and images.
post_id | 3,268,266 |
---|---|
author | daddykirbs |
permlink | re-liberosist-stratolaunch-the-widest-aircraft-ever-made-20170601t135919053z |
category | space |
json_metadata | "{"app": "steemit/0.1", "tags": ["space"]}" |
created | 2017-06-01 13:59:18 |
last_update | 2017-06-01 13:59:18 |
depth | 1 |
children | 0 |
net_rshares | 0 |
last_payout | 2017-06-08 13:59:18 |
cashout_time | 1969-12-31 23:59:59 |
total_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
curator_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
pending_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
promoted | 0.000 SBD |
body_length | 43 |
author_reputation | 32,029,897,993,437 |
root_title | "Stratolaunch - the widest aircraft ever made" |
beneficiaries | [] |
max_accepted_payout | 1,000,000.000 SBD |
percent_steem_dollars | 10,000 |
Wow! Interesting :D
post_id | 3,270,115 |
---|---|
author | elishagautam |
permlink | re-liberosist-stratolaunch-the-widest-aircraft-ever-made-20170601t150441628z |
category | space |
json_metadata | "{"app": "steemit/0.1", "tags": ["space"]}" |
created | 2017-06-01 15:03:54 |
last_update | 2017-06-01 15:03:54 |
depth | 1 |
children | 0 |
net_rshares | 0 |
last_payout | 2017-06-08 15:03:54 |
cashout_time | 1969-12-31 23:59:59 |
total_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
curator_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
pending_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
promoted | 0.000 SBD |
body_length | 19 |
author_reputation | 1,724,513,770,671 |
root_title | "Stratolaunch - the widest aircraft ever made" |
beneficiaries | [] |
max_accepted_payout | 1,000,000.000 SBD |
percent_steem_dollars | 10,000 |
That same company made the Roton. One of my favorite concept rockets. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_Rocket
post_id | 3,271,164 |
---|---|
author | alaqrab |
permlink | re-liberosist-stratolaunch-the-widest-aircraft-ever-made-20170601t154755202z |
category | space |
json_metadata | "{"app": "steemit/0.1", "links": ["https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_Rocket"], "tags": ["space"]}" |
created | 2017-06-01 15:47:57 |
last_update | 2017-06-01 15:47:57 |
depth | 1 |
children | 2 |
net_rshares | 467,037,873,834 |
last_payout | 2017-06-08 15:47:57 |
cashout_time | 1969-12-31 23:59:59 |
total_payout_value | 1.206 SBD |
curator_payout_value | 0.395 SBD |
pending_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
promoted | 0.000 SBD |
body_length | 116 |
author_reputation | 8,467,940,109,855 |
root_title | "Stratolaunch - the widest aircraft ever made" |
beneficiaries | [] |
max_accepted_payout | 1,000,000.000 SBD |
percent_steem_dollars | 10,000 |
author_curate_reward | "" |
voter | weight | wgt% | rshares | pct | time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
liberosist | 0 | 153,202,770,463 | 43% | ||
victoria2002 | 0 | 849,471,758 | 100% | ||
leongkhan | 0 | 19,036,832,685 | 43% | ||
dunia | 0 | 293,948,798,928 | 43% |
Indeed! And also SpaceShipOne. They are doing some good work right now!
post_id | 3,271,381 |
---|---|
author | liberosist |
permlink | re-alaqrab-re-liberosist-stratolaunch-the-widest-aircraft-ever-made-20170601t155603924z |
category | space |
json_metadata | "{"app": "steemit/0.1", "tags": ["space"]}" |
created | 2017-06-01 15:56:09 |
last_update | 2017-06-01 15:56:09 |
depth | 2 |
children | 0 |
net_rshares | 0 |
last_payout | 2017-06-08 15:56:09 |
cashout_time | 1969-12-31 23:59:59 |
total_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
curator_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
pending_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
promoted | 0.000 SBD |
body_length | 71 |
author_reputation | 128,495,787,068,198 |
root_title | "Stratolaunch - the widest aircraft ever made" |
beneficiaries | [] |
max_accepted_payout | 1,000,000.000 SBD |
percent_steem_dollars | 10,000 |
>Stratolaunch is no ordinary aircraft. Surely It doesn't look so, I mean they merged two aircrafts into one. <hr> >The signature feature of the Stratolaunch, though, is its incredible 117m wingspan, spanning across a dual-fuselage body. That would be longer than an American football field! I wonder they have to make special airport for this. <hr> >The Stratolaunch system will be operational by 2020. Hope I will be rich enough by then to purchase the ticket of first commercial ride. <strong>Though, chances are very less for me to be that rich ever</strong>
post_id | 3,273,053 |
---|---|
author | looftee |
permlink | re-liberosist-stratolaunch-the-widest-aircraft-ever-made-20170601t165837480z |
category | space |
json_metadata | "{"app": "steemit/0.1", "tags": ["space"]}" |
created | 2017-06-01 16:58:36 |
last_update | 2017-06-01 16:58:36 |
depth | 1 |
children | 2 |
net_rshares | 467,037,873,834 |
last_payout | 2017-06-08 16:58:36 |
cashout_time | 1969-12-31 23:59:59 |
total_payout_value | 1.204 SBD |
curator_payout_value | 0.395 SBD |
pending_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
promoted | 0.000 SBD |
body_length | 566 |
author_reputation | 10,077,048,141,361 |
root_title | "Stratolaunch - the widest aircraft ever made" |
beneficiaries | [] |
max_accepted_payout | 1,000,000.000 SBD |
percent_steem_dollars | 10,000 |
author_curate_reward | "" |
voter | weight | wgt% | rshares | pct | time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
liberosist | 0 | 153,202,770,463 | 43% | ||
victoria2002 | 0 | 849,471,758 | 100% | ||
leongkhan | 0 | 19,036,832,685 | 43% | ||
dunia | 0 | 293,948,798,928 | 43% |
The runway needs to be a minimum 3.5 Km, which is not too bad. Any airport catering to Airbus A380 could technically land the Stratolaunch. Of course, you need a specialized cranes for mounting the payload etc, and the hangar needs to be custom built as you can see above. You can't just show up with a ticket, you'll need to show up with your own rocket as well :)
post_id | 3,273,255 |
---|---|
author | liberosist |
permlink | re-looftee-re-liberosist-stratolaunch-the-widest-aircraft-ever-made-20170601t170619658z |
category | space |
json_metadata | "{"app": "steemit/0.1", "tags": ["space"]}" |
created | 2017-06-01 17:06:21 |
last_update | 2017-06-01 17:06:21 |
depth | 2 |
children | 1 |
net_rshares | 0 |
last_payout | 2017-06-08 17:06:21 |
cashout_time | 1969-12-31 23:59:59 |
total_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
curator_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
pending_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
promoted | 0.000 SBD |
body_length | 366 |
author_reputation | 128,495,787,068,198 |
root_title | "Stratolaunch - the widest aircraft ever made" |
beneficiaries | [] |
max_accepted_payout | 1,000,000.000 SBD |
percent_steem_dollars | 10,000 |
>You can't just show up with a ticket, you'll need to show up with your own rocket as well :) Now you have made my dreams complicated, what to target for, Earning enough for Stratolaunch ticket or to purchase a rocket. Damn difficult choice.
post_id | 3,274,611 |
---|---|
author | looftee |
permlink | re-liberosist-re-looftee-re-liberosist-stratolaunch-the-widest-aircraft-ever-made-20170601t175205527z |
category | space |
json_metadata | "{"app": "steemit/0.1", "tags": ["space"]}" |
created | 2017-06-01 17:52:06 |
last_update | 2017-06-01 17:52:06 |
depth | 3 |
children | 0 |
net_rshares | 0 |
last_payout | 2017-06-08 17:52:06 |
cashout_time | 1969-12-31 23:59:59 |
total_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
curator_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
pending_payout_value | 0.000 SBD |
promoted | 0.000 SBD |
body_length | 242 |
author_reputation | 10,077,048,141,361 |
root_title | "Stratolaunch - the widest aircraft ever made" |
beneficiaries | [] |
max_accepted_payout | 1,000,000.000 SBD |
percent_steem_dollars | 10,000 |