Friday, February 25, 2022

Stratolaunch Completes Another Flight Test

Mojave-based Stratolaunch, the space startup which was developing an aerial rocket launch platform, but which has since shifted to provide a platform for launching hypersonic vehicles, says it has had a successful completion of its fourth flight test. According to Stratolaunch, the vehicle--the "Roc"--flew for 1 hour, 43 minutes over the Mojave Desert and reached an altitude of 15,000 feet. Stratolaunch is now developing a system for launching rocket-powered, autonomous, reusable vehicles for taking payloads above Mach 5, for use in scientific research, technological development, and component demonstration. The company originally was founded by now deceased Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen as part of the billionaire space race, but was sold to a mystery buyer in 2019 after Allen's death.