Stratolauncher

[Gambi]

I just found this on the interwebs :

Video in link

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/stories/stratolauncher-construction-begins-on-hangar-for-giant-rocket-launching-

And I just thought : 'This can be made with KSP !' 8)

I have started a couple of experiments with C7 Pack, so far lots of explosions and mid-air desintegrations.

The goal of this project is to achieve a rocket launch in the upper atmosphere ( 10 000 m )

[jgjiscool]

Is that... a plane... with an attached ROCKET?! Oh hell yes!

[Ninjainthenight]

Seems legit. How large will this 'ship' be, do you think?

[CardBoardBoxProcessor]

this would be eaisly made with some modified Failcan 9 parts. since it is basically a shorter falcon5 with a wing. (plane aside)

[CAPFlyer]

I think they\'ve now changed the name to Falcon 4 as the new generation of Merlin will still allow them to meet performance goals.

http://www.stratolaunch.com/

Scaled Composites is building the launch aircraft out of a pair of 747s and SpaceX is building the Falcon launch vehicle. The system will eventually be able to launch the Dragon capsule, giving an additional launch option in addition to the Falcon 9 vehicle.

[Ydoow]

So like...does the plane go vertical into a stall before the rocket ignites?

Or does the rocket seriously take off horizontally?

[NovaSilisko]

So like...does the plane go vertical into a stall before the rocket ignites?

Or does the rocket seriously take off horizontally?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pegasus_(rocket)

Read em and weep.

[Guest Flixxbeatz]

Any questions? 8)

EDIT: Will rebuild the whole thing from scratch again, stave off truckloads of RCS and stuff.

[CAPFlyer]

While they are way too early in development for the actual flight profile to anything more than a general sketch, the profile will most likely be similar to that used by other air launch systems where the rocket is released in relatively level flight and then the rockets ignite after separation and a drop of a thousand feet or so for clearance.

Here\'s some air launch examples -

Orbital Science Typical Pegasus Launch.flv

[Lunniy Korabl]

So... are you making your own parts once the conceptual vehicle works or is this in the wrong section?

Either way, I\'m excited about your progress!

[Gambi]

So... are you making your own parts once the conceptual vehicle works or is this in the wrong section?

I haven\'t tried parts design yet, so I guess you\'re right : wrong section :-[

First protoype is on the way though, some handling issues on the launcher due to its massive scale...

[muskeg]

I can see a resemblance with my space plane

I should make a bigger version that can launch a rocket

[Asmosdeus]

Huh... weird I should come across this, I just finished successfully testing a stratolauncher... Right now.

[Svga777 -RUS-]

I can see a resemblance with my space plane

I should make a bigger version that can launch a rocket

SURGE 1?

[Asmosdeus]

[Guest Flixxbeatz]

-snip-

a challenger appears...

[Asmosdeus]

[CAPFlyer]

Dude, really, do you need to cuss that much?

You are well aware as is everyone else that there are minors on this board. Do everyone a favor and clean up your language!

[Herpderpsslerps]

Dale Brown wrote about a system that was designed to launch from a C-13. Carried two rockets with several micro satallites each that could achieve LEO but had almost no orbital maneuverability, once inserted they circled taking pictures before burning up in reentry. I\'d love to make something like that for this.

[Entropy]

I built something like this a long time ago. Three columns strapped together in a line. Middle was the rocket, outsides were fuel pods for the C7 jets. Two huge wings on the outside. It used the C7 jets\' efficiency and power to boost itself up into the upper atmosphere, then popped the two outer columns and wings away, leaving just the rocket. It was a mother to wrangle up to altitude, but man, that was the most efficient rocket I\'ve ever built. Never did build one that launched the rocket while leaving the airplane bits intact.