Giant plane nearing flight

The giant aircraft being developed by Stratolaunch as part of an air-launch system is closing in on its first flight after a new series of taxi tests. The series of medium-speed taxi tests were done Feb. 24 and 25 at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. It build upon a series of taxi tests performed at lower speeds in December. Funded by billionaire Paul Allen, Stratolaunch's giant plane – the world's largest by wingspan – was initially designed to carry modified versions of rockets from other companies. Now Stratolaunch is also considering developing its own launch system. The company has hired propulsion engineers and has a Space Act Agreement with NASA's Stennis Space Center, Miss., to use a test stand there for "testing of its propulsion system test article element 1." (Source: SpaceNews, 02/27/18) Previous