The "world's largest aircraft" is expected to be launched into space with a carrier rocket in 2020

Xinhua News Agency, Los Angeles, August 20 (Reporter Guo Shuang) Like many of his wealthy partners, Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, has also set his sights on the commercial space launch market. The aerospace company he founded announced its latest development plan on the 20th, and the world's largest wingspan aircraft is expected to be launched with a carrier rocket in 2020.

According to reports, this aircraft will carry different types of rockets to take off from the ground, and then let the rockets ignite, launch, and leave the atmosphere at high altitude to send satellites into orbit.

In order to compete for the commercial satellite launch market, Allen founded the American Stratolaunch Systems in 2011, intending to use an airplane to transport the rocket into the air for launch. This approach is more accurate, faster and less costly than traditional ground launch methods.

"We are excited to share for the first time some details about our development of a purpose-built launch vehicle that provides flexible launch capabilities unlike any other company," CEO Joan Floyd said in a statement on the 20th. "Whatever the payload or orbit, getting your satellite into space will soon be as easy as booking a flight."

According to the plan, the aircraft responsible for transporting the rocket is a catamaran with the world's largest wingspan. It has two fuselages, six engines, and a wingspan of 117 meters, which is close to the length of a standard football field.

The aircraft will first carry the Pegasus rocket built by Northrop Grumman, an air-launched rocket that has been successfully launched many times before on other carrier aircraft. The Pegasus can deliver up to 370 kilograms of payload to an altitude of 400 kilometers, and its first flight with the catamaran is scheduled to be completed in 2020.

In addition, Stratolaunch Systems plans to launch an air-launched medium launch vehicle with a payload of 3,400 kg in 2022. An enhanced medium launch vehicle with a payload of 6,000 kg is still in the early stages of development.

According to reports, the company also plans to develop a reusable space plane, which can transport payloads into space and bring them back to Earth. This aircraft is similar to the US Air Force's X-37B space plane, but the ultimate goal is to carry people. However, this space plane is still in the design research stage.

At present, the competition in the commercial space launch market is becoming increasingly fierce, and companies such as Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, United Launch Alliance, and Blue Origin have emerged. Strato Launch Systems is not the only aerospace company that is optimistic about the air launch system. Virgin Galactic in the UK is also developing a similar system.