Stratolaunch breaks cover
Discussion
Strugs said:
Cold said:
As a "thing" it looks frikkin' awesome. Whether it will actually be able to do the job it's designed for is another matter. But the business case does not detract from the Thunderbird-ness of it.
To the skies and beyond!
^^This!^^To the skies and beyond!
I can't wait to see it fly and fire off space ships or whatever it's meant to do.
Presumably this is just a rollout of a mockup like the on time 787 rollout was?
It will be used to launch satellites into orbit.
The technique is already used by Orbital ATK with their Tristar based Pegasus launcher. This will allow large rockets to be carried.
Stratolaunch
Pegasus
Richard Branson is also involved in a project to convert on of his 747s into a satellite launcher -
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53497651/L1_release.jpeg_cmyk.0.jpg)
The technique is already used by Orbital ATK with their Tristar based Pegasus launcher. This will allow large rockets to be carried.
Stratolaunch
Pegasus
Richard Branson is also involved in a project to convert on of his 747s into a satellite launcher -
Eric Mc said:
Don't think so. The Orbital ATK Pegasus launches are done so in straight and level flight. There would be no significant advantage to be gained in launching at a slightly upward angle.
Surely there would be some advantage from a vector perspective in having the rocket launching as close to vertical as possible? Brother D said:
Eric Mc said:
Don't think so. The Orbital ATK Pegasus launches are done so in straight and level flight. There would be no significant advantage to be gained in launching at a slightly upward angle.
Surely there would be some advantage from a vector perspective in having the rocket launching as close to vertical as possible? Don't forget that the rocket eventually ends up pointing just above the horizon, that's how you end up in a stable orbit.
Ground launched rockets only travel vertically for a fairly short part of their flight. Within about five seconds of clearing the tower a rocket will start pitching away from the vertical so that eventually it is travelling parallel to the earth's surface.
If you watch an air launched Pegasus launch, you will see that the launcher will be let go with the mother craft flying pretty much horizontally. The rocket drops away, ignites its motor and accelerates away, still in a horizontal attitude and when it is well clear of the nose of the aircraft, will pitch up into fairly shallow climb angle that will eventually take it out of the upper atmosphere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7_yyvGxwrE
If you watch an air launched Pegasus launch, you will see that the launcher will be let go with the mother craft flying pretty much horizontally. The rocket drops away, ignites its motor and accelerates away, still in a horizontal attitude and when it is well clear of the nose of the aircraft, will pitch up into fairly shallow climb angle that will eventually take it out of the upper atmosphere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7_yyvGxwrE
Krikkit said:
With vectored thrust you can re-orientate the rocket very easily - the difficulty is the aerodynamics of keeping the rocket out of the way of the plane and visa-versa, not to mention that you don't necessarily want to stress out the airframe of the plane with fancy manoeuvres.
Don't forget that the rocket eventually ends up pointing just above the horizon, that's how you end up in a stable orbit.
Posted to fix link.Don't forget that the rocket eventually ends up pointing just above the horizon, that's how you end up in a stable orbit.
Eric Mc said:
It will be used to launch satellites into orbit.
The technique is already used by Orbital ATK with their Tristar based Pegasus launcher. This will allow large rockets to be carried.
Stratolaunch
Pegasus
Richard Branson is also involved in a project to convert on of his 747s into a satellite launcher -
Orbital ATK use rockets - are you thinking of Orbital Access?The technique is already used by Orbital ATK with their Tristar based Pegasus launcher. This will allow large rockets to be carried.
Stratolaunch
Pegasus
Richard Branson is also involved in a project to convert on of his 747s into a satellite launcher -
Theirs isn't flying yet
Eric Mc said:
Orbital ATK have operated the air launched Pegasus for over 20 years. Initially it was launched from one of the NASA B-52s and latterly using the L1011 shown in the pictures.
It's amazing how time flies, I remember doing the conversion at Marshalls in the early 90's. Lots of stripping out, lots of modifications, lots of air testing with bits falling off, endless sticking bits of wool on the lower fuselage to show airflow direction, then more modifications and no more bits falling off!Happy days.
eccles said:
It's amazing how time flies, I remember doing the conversion at Marshalls in the early 90's. Lots of stripping out, lots of modifications, lots of air testing with bits falling off, endless sticking bits of wool on the lower fuselage to show airflow direction, then more modifications and no more bits falling off!
Happy days.
It's due for retirement soon. I watched one of their launches live a year or so ago.Happy days.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff