Co-founder of Microsoft Paul Allen is working on a plane with which satellites can be launched. This should place the vessel in the gap that the space shuttle left behind. The aircraft can also carry passengers.
The spacecraft of Microsoft-founder Allen, who is the project of at least $ 200 million in whole out of their own pocket funds, consists of a plane and a rocket. The plane, the largest ever made, accompanies the rocket to 10 km altitude, after which it is fired. The giant plane, with a wing span of 117 meters and six jet engines in the air, is a runway of 3.7 km is needed.
Already in 2017 should the first test flights to be carried out. The aircraft is suitable to satellites in space; the launch of a satellite would be a lot cheaper than with traditional launchers. Eventually, the aircraft must also be used to carry passengers in the space.
Paul Allen has founded a company, Stratolaunch Systems, that the system should operate. The plane that the rocket carries, is made by Scaled Composites, part of defence company Northrop Grumman. The rocket, a modified Falcon 9, developed by SpaceX. Allen was previously responsible for the by Scaled Composites developed SpaceShipOne, the first private spacecraft to transport of people.
