{"id":18698,"date":"2017-12-19T01:21:45","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T17:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/paul-allens-stratolaunch-space-venture-puts-monster-plane-through-first-taxi-test\/"},"modified":"2017-12-19T01:21:45","modified_gmt":"2017-12-18T17:21:45","slug":"paul-allens-stratolaunch-space-venture-puts-monster-plane-through-first-taxi-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/paul-allens-stratolaunch-space-venture-puts-monster-plane-through-first-taxi-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Allen\u2019s Stratolaunch space venture puts monster plane through first taxi test"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_384610\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-384610\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full-width wp-image-384610\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/171217-stratolaunch-630x460.jpg\" alt=\"Stratolaunch plane\" width=\"630\" height=\"460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/171217-stratolaunch-630x460.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/171217-stratolaunch-768x561.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/171217-stratolaunch-1260x920.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/171217-stratolaunch.jpg 1479w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-384610\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The world\u2019s biggest airplane taxis along the Mojave Air and Space Port\u2019s runway during a ground test conducted by Stratolaunch. For a size comparison, note the pickup truck driving between the plane\u2019s twin fuselages. (Paul Allen via Twitter)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That\u2019s one more not-so-small step for Stratolaunch\u2019s giant airplane: The space venture\u2019s founder, software billionaire Paul Allen, is showing off a 34-second video of the twin-fuselage aircraft as it aced its first taxi test on the runway at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California.<\/p>\n<p>Allen said the test was conducted Saturday, marking a rare outing for the plane that\u2019s destined to serve as a flying platform for launching rockets into space. In a Sunday night tweet, he promised that there\u2019d be \u201cmore to share soon\u201d:<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 0px; height: 0px; 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=942574809086509056&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2017%2Fpaul-allens-stratolaunch-space-venture-puts-monster-airplane-first-taxi-test%2F&amp;sessionId=74b1e44dcf21a2752fe54a327c54a23992caf736&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"942574809086509056\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i178280171761751157=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.@Stratolaunch turned onto the Mojave Air and Space Port runway center line yesterday and successfully conducted its first taxi test. More to share soon! pic.twitter.com\/JEs1grBnK5<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) December 18, 2017<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Allen, one of Microsoft\u2019s co-founders, created Stratolaunch six years ago as a follow-up to the SpaceShipOne private spaceflight venture he backed in Mojave. The program has gone through a series of strategic twists and turns, but the fact that the plane has begun rolling down the runway suggests it could start flight tests in earnest next year.<\/p>\n<p>Stratolaunch\u2019s plane, nicknamed Roc, has the widest wingspan in the aviation world at 385 feet. That\u2019s 50 percent wider than the wings of a Boeing 747 \u2014 which probably shouldn\u2019t be surprising, considering that parts from two 747s went into building the plane. Mojave-based Scaled Composites aided in the fabrication of the plane\u2019s carbon composite components.<\/p>\n<p>The plane is designed to carry one or more rockets to high altitude, then drop them in midflight for launch. The benefit of air launch is that satellite payloads could be sent into any orbital inclination from a wide range of locations. Orbital ATK is one of Stratolaunch\u2019s partners, and U.S. governmental and military officials have sent signals that they might be interested in what Stratolaunch has to offer.<\/p>\n<style>.fotorama1782801717657 .fotorama__nav--thumbs .fotorama__nav__frame{\npadding:2px;\nheight:64px}\n.fotorama1782801717657 .fotorama__thumb-border{\nheight:60px;\nborder-width:2px;\nmargin-top:2px}<\/style>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/strato3-1260x841.png\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 599.287px; height: 400px; left: 100.357px; top: 0px;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tThe nose of Stratolaunch\u2019s airplane juts out during a runway taxi test. (Stratolaunch Photo)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/161006-stratolaunch-orbital-2-1240x697.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 711.621px; height: 400px; left: 44.1894px; top: 0px;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tAn artist\u2019s rendering shows the Stratolaunch twin-fuselage airplane with Orbital ATK\u2019s Pegasus XL air-launch vehicles slung underneath. (Credit: Vulcan Aerospace)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/strato1-1260x928.png\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 543.103px; height: 400px; left: 128.448px; top: 0px;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tThe plane taxis at low speed at Mojave Air and Space Port. (Stratolaunch Photo)<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/strato3-1260x841.png\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 96px; height: 64.0762px; left: 0px; top: -0.0380952px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/strato1-1260x928.png\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 87px; height: 64.0762px; left: 0px; top: -0.0380952px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/strato2-1260x840.png\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 96px; height: 64px; left: 0px; top: 0px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/strato4-1260x840.png\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 96px; height: 64px; left: 0px; top: 0px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/strato5-1260x888.png\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 91px; height: 64.1333px; left: 0px; top: -0.0666667px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/161006-stratolaunch-orbital-2-1240x697.jpg\" class=\"fotorama__img\" style=\"width: 114px; height: 64.079px; left: 0px; top: -0.0395161px;\"><\/p>\n<p>In a statement released today, Stratolaunch CEO Jean Floyd said \u201cthe primary purpose of this activity was to test the aircraft\u2019s ability to steer and stop.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"textbox\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cOur ground team monitored a number of systems, including steering, braking, anti-skid and telemetry. We are excited to report these systems operated as anticipated,\u201d Floyd said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Today\u2019s update also included a quote from George Bugg, Stratolaunch\u2019s aircraft program manager:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"textbox\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cThis was another exciting milestone for our team and the program. Our crew was able to demonstrate ground directional control with nose gear steering, and our brake systems were exercised successfully on the runway. Our first low speed taxi test is a very important step toward first flight. We are all proud and excited.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"textbox\" dir=\"ltr\">As taxi tests continue, the airplane will go down the runway at increase speeds, leading up to the day when it takes off for the first time. If all goes according to plan, Stratolaunch could start launching by as early as 2019.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><em>This report was first published at 11:18 p.m. PT Dec. 17 and has been updated.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The world\u2019s biggest airplane taxis along the Mojave Air and Space Port\u2019s runway during a ground test conducted by Stratolaunch. For a size comparison, note the pickup truck driving between the plane\u2019s twin fuselages. (Paul Allen via Twitter) That\u2019s one more not-so-small step for Stratolaunch\u2019s giant airplane: The space venture\u2019s founder, software billionaire Paul Allen, [&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":[291,2900,2672,2489,4949],"class_list":["post-18698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-commercial-space","tag-mojave","tag-paul-allen","tag-stratolaunch","tag-vulcan-aerospace"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18698"}],"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=18698"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18698\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}