Space drone from the creator of Microsoft Paul Allen
Recently, the BBC announced the intention of one of the founders of the computer corporation Microsoft Paul Allen to engage in space exploration. 58-year-old businessman is going to build an unmanned aerial vehicle that can deliver various loads into space, into the orbit of the planet Earth. The ambitious project is called Stratolaunch Systems and, according to Allen, will lead the United States to one of the leading places among the countries involved in space exploration. The project involves the creation of a giant aircraft, a feature of which will be the ability to launch space rockets from a great height above the surface of the planet. In developing this space drone eminent designer specializing in aerospace engineering, Bert Rutan, will take part.
During a press conference in Seattle, Allen mentioned that since the time of his youth, the US space program has become a symbol of hope for him. And with age, his passion for space only increased, and now he will finally be able to fulfill his long-held dream.
The developers discovered some of the technical features of their unmanned vehicles. According to their plan, the spacecraft will launch space satellites into orbit, and will also deliver equipment and various cargoes to the International Space Station. It is known that the wingspan of the new space giant will be 117 meters, and six engines for the Boeing 747 will lift it into the air.
In size, the new aircraft will surpass the famous Hughes H-4 "Hercules". Recall that this is an experimental model of the aircraft with a wingspan of 98 meters, which was built in 1940-s and made only one flight. Thus, as part of the Stratolaunch System will be produced the largest, at the moment, aircraft in the world.
Designers have been developing models over the past 10. And now, according to Rutan and Allen, in the hangar, which is located in one of the areas of the California Mojave Desert, work has already begun on the construction of a prototype. The first test flights are scheduled for 2016 year.
The company Paula Allen released advertisements, which describe the main advantages of their development. In particular, it was noted that the launch system from orbit will help to significantly reduce costs, increase safety and efficiency, and provide greater flexibility than using existing ground-based launch systems.
The fast turnaround of Stratolaunch was also noted, which will significantly speed up the execution of various space programs and increase their number by reducing the time between launches.
Washington’s plans, after the NASA agency has completely curtailed its own space flight program, envisage the use of spacecraft built with funds from private investors.
The SpaceShipOne spacecraft, which in 2004 was created by Paul Allen and Bert Rutan, became the first manned suborbital ship in the world built by private entrepreneurs.
And in 2010, the first flight was made by the private spacecraft SpaceShipTwo, owned by Virgin Galactic. By 2013, the company plans regular passenger flights to the suborbital space, the cost of which will be 200 thousand dollars. In total, the ship provides space for six people.
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