Stratolaunch forging ahead

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Stratolaunch, a space transportation venture, is developing what could soon become the largest mobile launch system. The project dates back to 2010, with the creation of Stratolaunch Systems announced in 2011 by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen and Scaled Composites founder Burt Rutan, who had previously collaborated on the creation of SpaceShipOne.

Several companies have teamed up for the Stratolaunch project: the carrier aircraft is being built by Scaled Composites, with Dynetics providing systems integration for the new commercial space launch system. At first, SpaceX was a major partner, designing a multistage payload rocket-powered space vehicle, which would be launched at high altitude into space from under the carrier aircraft. But collaboration with SpaceX ended in 2012, project supervisors citing different ambitions and approaches between the Stratolaunch venture and Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which is now aiming for the Red Planet.

Stratolaunch Systems completed its production, assembly and operations facilities in February 2013, based at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. The program was then placed under the supervision of Paul Allen’s new company Vulcan Aerospace (a subsidiary of Vulcan Inc.) in 2015, the latter ending the partnership with Orbital ATK. Strong focus has since been given to the completion of the carrier aircraft, which was originally expected to perform its maiden flight this year.

Stratolaunch bought two former United Airlines Boeing 747-400s, removing many critical parts and reassembling them into one flying launchpad. The aircraft is mostly made out of lightweight graphite composites, with a 385-foot wingspan and powered by six of the original eight Pratt & Whitney PW4056 engines bought along with the 747s. The cockpit will retain many components and electronics of the Jumbo jets as well. Nicknamed “Roc”, after the gigantic mythical bird, the Stratolaunch could very well claim the title of world’s largest airplane. The twin-fuselage, weighing approximately 590 tons, will carry a rocket underneath its central wing, dropping it from an altitude of more than 30,000 feet. The rocket would then follow its route to space by its own means. The concept shares many similarities with Scaled Composites’ (a Northrop Grumman subsidiary) previous designs, the company currently producing planes capable of launching passenger-carrying rockets for Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic.

The project is on track to begin commercial operations before the end of the decade, according to the company. But how will Stratolaunch’s business model work? Charles Beames, president of Vulcan Aerospace, has emphasized the fact that the huge mobile launchpad could carry a wide range of payloads (up to 500,000 pounds), including rockets of various sizes and missions. “That allows us to serve a broader set of customers ,” he stated, hoping that Stratolaunch will revolutionize access to space, with an efficient, reliable and affordable alternative for commercial satellite operators… But competition may be tough, as Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX are both following the same objectives, albeit through different technologies: Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs), that launch from and land back on Earth. Last Sunday, Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket completed another test successfully.

What, then, would be the arguments of an airborne launcher against the growing RLV business? Stratolaunch officials have highlighted an airborne launcher’s ability to overcome meteorological complications (which can lead to launch cancellations on Earth) and its mobility, allowing the airplane to efficiently launch satellites into certain orbits.

But does Stratolaunch’s size give its –future- operators flexibility, as Charles Beames declared? Critics have outlined the fact that the behemoth would require huge landing strips, thus massive infrastructure and facilities.

Furthermore, following the cancellation of partnerships with SpaceX and Orbital ATK with whom Stratolaunch had worked to develop specific rockets tailored for the plane, Stratolaunch does not currently offer such a specific launcher. The question of demand and economic viability of the project can thus be raised, as Stratolaunch will compete in the small-satellite markets … markets which are already highly competitive.

Beyond the – many – technical and scientific achievements of the project, Stratolaunch’s lack of an adapted “ready-to-use” rocket may hamper its ability to serve the current satellite-launch market. As an answer to such doubts, Charles Beames recently declared that discussions with undisclosed companies were ongoing, and that new partnerships would soon be announced. Nonetheless, commercial opportunities are many: tech companies such as Google or Facebook are pursuing efforts to enhance internet access worldwide, and demand for Earth imagery or climate data via satellites is increasing. Analysts forecast a steady growth of demand for satellites, and the Stratolaunch may well carve itself an interesting market share in the near future. “Thirty years ago, the PC revolution put computing power into the hands of millions and unlocked incalculable human potential. Twenty years ago, the advent of the Web and the subsequent proliferation of smartphones combined to enable billions of people to surmount the traditional limitations of geography and commerce. Today, expanding access to low Earth orbit holds similar revolutionary potential,” Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen said in a statement.

According to company statements, the Stratolaunch is now 76% complete as of June 2016. Once complete, the airplane will have to go through various test programs, although no official date was given for Stratolaunch’s first flight. Stratolaunch executives are nonetheless confident that their giant airplane will meet demand, and serve a broad client base. “When such access to space is routine, innovation will accelerate in ways beyond what we can currently imagine,” Allen said in a statement. “That’s the thing about new platforms: when they become easily available, convenient and affordable, they attract and enable other visionaries and entrepreneurs to realize more new concepts”. But is competition getting closer? Virgin Galactic is reportedly also planning a similar effort to launch rockets carrying small satellites into the air via a Boeing 747. The satellite-launch market is getting crowded … but Stratolaunch could very well contribute to the “revolution of space access”.

Written by ADIT – The Bulletin and republished with permission.