tater Posted May 31, 2019 Share Posted May 31, 2019 The answer to OP's question is now definitely, "no." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotius Posted May 31, 2019 Share Posted May 31, 2019 Yeah. RIP Stratolaunch - which comes as no surprise to probably everyone. They were going nowhere with their program and hardware for quite some time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canopus Posted May 31, 2019 Share Posted May 31, 2019 On 4/13/2019 at 10:34 PM, Canopus said: Is this the new Spruce Goose? or Composite Condor, wonder whats going to happen to it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor Wotansen Posted May 31, 2019 Share Posted May 31, 2019 1 hour ago, Canopus said: or Composite Condor, wonder whats going to happen to it now. It would be cool if someone uses it to haul ridiculously outsized things around, like heavy equipment to disaster areas or luxury yachts for absurdly rich people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimate Steve Posted June 1, 2019 Share Posted June 1, 2019 (edited) On 5/31/2019 at 6:36 PM, Thor Wotansen said: It would be cool if someone uses it to haul ridiculously outsized things around, like heavy equipment to disaster areas or luxury yachts for absurdly rich people. If they sell it to Virgin Galactic, they could make a far bigger spaceship to hang underneath. Edited June 6, 2019 by Ultimate Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRB Posted June 9, 2019 Share Posted June 9, 2019 On 5/31/2019 at 7:36 PM, Thor Wotansen said: It would be cool if someone uses it to haul ridiculously outsized things around, like heavy equipment to disaster areas or luxury yachts for absurdly rich people. Sort of like this:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conroy_Virtus only around non-aerodynamic loads you would need a bigger version of this:http://www.vc10.net/Technical/oddities.html#EnginePod I hope it is bought-it would just suck to see it go to waste, even if it was impractical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 Hmmm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sh1pman Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 What’s dead may never die. Have they found a new investor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted September 26, 2019 Share Posted September 26, 2019 4 minutes ago, sh1pman said: What’s dead may never die. Have they found a new investor? Unsure yet. Quote Representatives of the Allen family’s Vulcan holding company have insisted that Stratolaunch remains operational. LinkedIn listings indicate that Jean Floyd is still president and CEO, although three company vice presidents left in July. Now Stratolaunch is posting 11 job openings, including listings for two test pilots. “As a test pilot on the history-making Stratolaunch Carrier Aircraft, the world’s largest-wingspan aircraft, you will have the opportunity to accomplish new milestones in aviation,” the company says. Then: Quote We’ve asked Vulcan about the reported investment, the hiring push and any expectations about an announcement. We’ll update this report with anything we can pass along. The article that will be updated is linked in the tweet above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikegarrison Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 Stratolaunch has a new owner. Stratolaunch said Friday that it has “transitioned ownership ” but will be continuing regular operations. In the near term, the company said in a statement, it will focus on providing rocket-powered testbeds and “associated flight services.” The company did not say who its new owner is. Two people familiar with the matter said, without providing further specifics, that it is a group of investors. A spokeswoman for Stratolaunch declined to comment on the date of the sale, terms of the deal or where the new owner is based. Jean Floyd remains chief executive, a role he has held since 2015. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 6 hours ago, mikegarrison said: Stratolaunch has a new owner. Stratolaunch said Friday that it has “transitioned ownership ” but will be continuing regular operations. In the near term, the company said in a statement, it will focus on providing rocket-powered testbeds and “associated flight services.” The company did not say who its new owner is. Two people familiar with the matter said, without providing further specifics, that it is a group of investors. A spokeswoman for Stratolaunch declined to comment on the date of the sale, terms of the deal or where the new owner is based. Jean Floyd remains chief executive, a role he has held since 2015. Interesting... Glad to see this moving forward, the more options out there, the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Boyle thinks the new owner is Northrop Grumman. Interesting... Also, this post didn't age well: On 5/31/2019 at 3:02 PM, tater said: The answer to OP's question is now definitely, "no." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thor Wotansen Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 5 minutes ago, tater said: Boyle thinks the new owner is Northrop Grumman. Interesting... I wonder if they're going to use the Roc to transport submarines or something.... I do hope it gets used for something, and doesn't just become another aviation record holder that slowly wastes away in a hangar somewhere where people pay $5 to see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 8 minutes ago, Thor Wotansen said: I wonder if they're going to use the Roc to transport submarines or something.... I do hope it gets used for something, and doesn't just become another aviation record holder that slowly wastes away in a hangar somewhere where people pay $5 to see it. Pegasus (or some variant). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sh1pman Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 On 6/1/2019 at 12:02 AM, tater said: The answer to OP's question is now definitely, "no." 1 hour ago, tater said: Pegasus (or some variant). It really needs to switch to some other rocket to be competitive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 3 minutes ago, sh1pman said: It really needs to switch to some other rocket to be competitive. Yeah, no kidding. Wonder how much mass they could get to LEO with this drop vehicle... Looks like the carrier aircraft payload is 230 metric tons. Not really enough to do much unless they can squeeze out more Isp from whatever engines they use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sh1pman Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 (edited) 17 minutes ago, tater said: Yeah, no kidding. Wonder how much mass they could get to LEO with this drop vehicle... Not that much, as it turns out. Around 6-8t with a VacRaptor-powered single stage rocket, or up to 15 with two stage design. Less than F9. However, that single stage design can be a reusable spaceplane, which will shear another ton or two from usable payload, but will cut the cost greatly. Edited October 14, 2019 by sh1pman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimate Steve Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 On 10/14/2019 at 2:59 PM, sh1pman said: However, that single stage design can be a reusable spaceplane, which will shear another ton or two from usable payload, but will cut the cost greatly. Just two tons to give the rocket wings, tps, control surfaces, and landing gear? I doubt it on a rocket big enough to take 8 tons to orbit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted January 22, 2020 Share Posted January 22, 2020 Employee numbers up again, working on hypersonics... https://spacenews.com/stratolaunch-confirms-interest-in-launch-services-and-hypersonic-vehicles/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XB-70A Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 (edited) Some news, and a lot of hypersonic projects. https://spacenews.com/stratolaunch-announces-hypersonic-vehicle-plans/ Talon-A Could take-off on its own. Talon-Z Larger model-A, which Stratolaunch doesn't talk a lot about. Black Ice Yes, an Orbiter. Mostly a cargo spaceplane, but which could be used to carry humans. ----------------------------- Edit: @tater, seems like we posted at the exact same time Edited March 30, 2020 by XB-70A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 2 minutes ago, XB-70A said: @tater, seems like we posted at the exact same time I'm torn between reading $#@! about coronavirus, and wishing I was reading literally anything else, so I was seeking out new space news to distract me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tater Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceFace545 Posted April 29, 2021 Share Posted April 29, 2021 I may seem like a debby downer but I think they just built a very large plane for no reason. It's not even branded as a space launch platform, now its called a hypersonic test platform. I guess they realized that there aren't any rockets built to fly on their plane and its way too expensive to develop their own rockets and spacecraft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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