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Started By
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Meanwhile in the Mojave, "the Roc" is almost ready to fly
Posted on 10/21/16 at 4:27 pm
Posted on 10/21/16 at 4:27 pm
I got to talking with an aviation tech at the gym this week that had just returned from working on this. It will be the world's largest airplane and more importantly enable us to get to the ISS without hitching rides. SIAP, but pretty fricking boss.
Aviation Week
Built for Stratolaunch by Scaled Composites, the Roc will be the largest aircraft ever made with a wingspan of 385 ft. This compares to 320 ft for the Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose), 290 ft for the six-engined Antonov An-225, 262 ft. for the Airbus A380, and 225 ft. for the Boeing 747-8. Powered by six reconditioned Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines salvaged along with other parts from two ex-United Airlines Boeing 747-400s, the twin-fuselage carrier aircraft resembles a vastly enlarged version of the Scaled-built WhiteKnightTwo developed for Virgin Galactic.
Aviation Week
Built for Stratolaunch by Scaled Composites, the Roc will be the largest aircraft ever made with a wingspan of 385 ft. This compares to 320 ft for the Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose), 290 ft for the six-engined Antonov An-225, 262 ft. for the Airbus A380, and 225 ft. for the Boeing 747-8. Powered by six reconditioned Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines salvaged along with other parts from two ex-United Airlines Boeing 747-400s, the twin-fuselage carrier aircraft resembles a vastly enlarged version of the Scaled-built WhiteKnightTwo developed for Virgin Galactic.
2
Posted on 10/21/16 at 4:36 pm to Backinthe615
quote:
Powered by six reconditioned Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines salvaged along with other parts from two ex-United Airlines Boeing 747-400s
Um, I don't think you can use jet engines in space. They need to take in air in order to produce thrust.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 4:42 pm to RedFoxx
It's a suborbital launch platform.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 4:44 pm to RedFoxx
quote:
Um, I don't think you can use jet engines in space. They need to take in air in order to produce thrust.
Read on:
quote:
The three-stage vehicle will use ATK-provided solid rocket motors for the first and second stages, while the third will be powered by two liquid-fueled Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C engines.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 4:54 pm to RedFoxx
quote:I think the Roc is the carrier vehicle to get everything into the upper atmosphere.
Um, I don't think you can use jet engines in space. They need to take in air in order to produce thrust.
The space payload will be in the Orbital Sciences-built Thunderbolt
quote:
The three-stage Thunderbolt rocket will be carried aloft for launch mounted beneath the wing center section.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 4:57 pm to Backinthe615
Has there been a test flight yet? I'd love to see that big boy take flight.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 5:03 pm to Backinthe615
quote:
It's a suborbital launch platform...you stupid frick
Fify
Posted on 10/21/16 at 5:13 pm to RoyalBaby
quote:
Has there been a test flight yet? I'd love to see that big boy take flight.
They were slated for '16. The tech I spoke with does wiring among other things and said they'd start testing pretty soon, most likely next year.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 5:53 pm to Backinthe615
Scaled Composites is still probably reeling from crashing their spaceship last year.
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