SEATTLE — Washington-based company Vulcan Aerospace announced that its Stratolaunch Systems, an air-launch platform for rockets, is close to completion.
According to Vulcan Aerospace’s website, the Stratolaunch has a wingspan of 385 ft and measures 238 ft in length. This six-engine aircraft is currently the world’s largest aircraft.
The aircraft is designed to carry rockets weighing up to 275 tons. It would take off with the rocket attached to its belly from a runway and release the rocket when it reaches 35,000 feet in the air. The rocket then fires its own engine and travel towards its orbit.
According to Financial Review, the company hopes to make air-rocket launch in the low-Earth orbit a routine commute through the use of the Stratolaunch System.
The Stratolaunch Systems is expected to be completed by the end of this year and is estimated to start commercial services before 2020.
