{"id":17390,"date":"2022-05-04T20:24:08","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T12:24:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/stratolaunch-celebrates-star-wars-day-with-fifth-flight-of-its-giant-airplane-featuring-a-new-pylon\/"},"modified":"2022-05-04T20:24:08","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T12:24:08","slug":"stratolaunch-celebrates-star-wars-day-with-fifth-flight-of-its-giant-airplane-featuring-a-new-pylon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/stratolaunch-celebrates-star-wars-day-with-fifth-flight-of-its-giant-airplane-featuring-a-new-pylon\/","title":{"rendered":"Stratolaunch celebrates Star Wars Day with fifth flight of its giant airplane, featuring a new pylon"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full-width\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"330\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/220504-strato2-630x330.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-695522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/220504-strato2-630x330.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/220504-strato2-1260x660.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/220504-strato2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/220504-strato2-1536x805.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/220504-strato2.jpg 1916w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption>Stratolaunch\u2019s Roc airplane comes in for a Mojave landing. (Stratolaunch \/ NASASpaceflight.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Stratolaunch took the \u201cfifth\u201d on May the 4th, otherwise known as Star Wars Day.<\/p>\n<p>Today brought the fifth flight test for Stratolaunch\u2019s 385-foot-wide carrier aircraft, known as Roc (in a nod to the giant bird of Middle Eastern mythology). Roc ranks as the world\u2019s largest airplane by wingspan, and is designed to carry and release the company\u2019s rocket-powered Talon-A hypersonic vehicles for military and commercial applications.<\/p>\n<p>Seattle billionaire Paul Allen, the late co-founder of Microsoft, founded the venture in 2011 \u2014 but after Allen\u2019s death in 2018, ownership was transferred to a private equity firm. Like Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit, Stratolaunch takes advantage of air-launch technology pioneered during the award-winning SpaceShipOne campaign that Allen bankrolled nearly two decades ago.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 603px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1521937565481377801&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2022%2Fstratolaunch-celebrates-star-wars-day-with-fifth-flight-of-its-giant-airplane-featuring-a-new-pylon%2F&amp;sessionId=6d14b8eda7681d4b97bc7515743761421b3c26e8&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"1521937565481377801\"><\/iframe><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Roc took off from California\u2019s Mojave Air and Space Port at 7:39 a.m. PT today for a flight that lasted four hours and 58 minutes and reached a maximum altitude of 22,500 feet. Stratolaunch took note of the Star Wars Day connection in a post-landing tweet. \u201cThe force is strong in this plane,\u201d the company said. <\/p>\n<p>The test\u2019s prime objective was to check the aerodynamic performance of a new pylon added to Roc\u2019s center wing section. The 8,000-pound, 14-foot-wide pylon consists of a mini-wing and adapter, and will serve as the attachment point for Stratolaunch\u2019s swept-wing Talon-A hypersonic vehicles. The structure includes a winch system that will load the Talon-A onto the platform from the ground. <\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s flight also focused on landing gear operations, including door functionality and alternate gear extension.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 584px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1514770261811159042&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2022%2Fstratolaunch-celebrates-star-wars-day-with-fifth-flight-of-its-giant-airplane-featuring-a-new-pylon%2F&amp;sessionId=6d14b8eda7681d4b97bc7515743761421b3c26e8&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"1514770261811159042\"><\/iframe><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Stratolaunch\u2019s CEO and president, Zachary Krevor, said the flight successfully validated the hardware improvements.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe pylon is a crucial component of our combined launch system, and I am proud of the team\u2019s timely and quality integration work that occurred since our last test flight,\u201d Krevor said in a news release. \u201cIt is through their dedication that we continue to make steady progress toward achieving our next milestones of Talon-A flight tests later this year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stratolaunch says it\u2019s making progress on system integration and functional testing of its first two Talon-A test vehicles, TA-0 and TA-1.<\/p>\n<p>Last December, the Pentagon\u2019s Missile Defense Agency awarded Stratolaunch a contract to assess the applicability of a reusable hypersonic test bed for military applications, including intercepting hypersonic threats. The company expects to begin delivering services to government and commercial customers in 2023.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stratolaunch\u2019s Roc airplane comes in for a Mojave landing. (Stratolaunch \/ NASASpaceflight.com) Stratolaunch took the \u201cfifth\u201d on May the 4th, otherwise known as Star Wars Day. Today brought the fifth flight test for Stratolaunch\u2019s 385-foot-wide carrier aircraft, known as Roc (in a nod to the giant bird of Middle Eastern mythology). Roc ranks as the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[564,4435,2672,2489],"class_list":["post-17390","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-aviation","tag-hypersonic-flight","tag-paul-allen","tag-stratolaunch"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17390"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17390"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17390\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17390"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17390"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17390"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}