https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-details-about-stratolaunch-its-gigantic-carrier-airplane-the-largest-ever-built-and-the-rocket-that-it-will-carry/ Sun, 26 May 2013 13:52:37 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-details-about-stratolaunch-its-gigantic-carrier-airplane-the-largest-ever-built-and-the-rocket-that-it-will-carry/#comment-96679 Sun, 26 May 2013 13:52:37 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=23356#comment-96679 I understand that air launch increases the final payload capacity only a modest amount. However, air launch also means being able to launch over the ocean closer to the equator and hence more cheaply. There is also some possibility that launching over the ocean and in an easterly direction towards land might enhance the possibility of land recovery of the rocket’s lower stage without requiring the fuel to turn it back westward to the launch site.

]]> https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/new-details-about-stratolaunch-its-gigantic-carrier-airplane-the-largest-ever-built-and-the-rocket-that-it-will-carry/#comment-96582 Sat, 25 May 2013 00:08:18 +0000 http://behindtheblack.com/?p=23356#comment-96582 The article says that returning to base with the rocket is part of the aircraft’s capabilities, but I’d think that landing an aircraft that size with a live rocket attached would be an interesting day.

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