'Roc' airborne again

摘要

THE UNIQUE Stratolaunch aircraft completed its second flight from Mojave, California on April 29, its first trip for just over two years.Affectionately known as the 'Roc', the jet flew for three hours and 14 minutes over the Mojave Desert, reaching 14,000ft in altitude.Developer Stratolaunch said the flight confirmed the aircraft's performance and handling characteristics, demonstrated its payload capability and validated landing gear, pressurisation and safety system enhancements that have been made since its first flight in April 2019.At 385ft, the wingspan is the widest ever developed. Originally designed to air-launch reusable rocket-powered vehicles in the upper atmosphere that would then climb into space, the focus shifted after an ownership change in 2019 and the establishment of Stratolaunch with investment from Cerberus Capital. The aim is now to use 'Roc' to air-launch hypersonic vehicles and make "testing and operating in hypersonic environments routine and affordable". Its first vehicle is the Talon-A, a fully reusable,autonomous, liquid rocket-powered Mach 6-class system that is 28ft long, has a 14ft wingspan and a 6,500lb launch weight.