Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review, Oct. 18, 2019

Stratolaunch under new ownership

In a company statement issued Oct.
11, Stratolaunch announced it has
“transitioned ownership and is continu-
ing regular operations.”
At the same time, Scaled Compos-
ites issued a statement announcing the
transfer of the Stratolaunch aircraft to
Stratolaunch Corporation.
Scaled Composites was contracted
in 2011 to design, build and test the
world’s largest aircraft by wingspan.
“Having accomplished these goals
successfully, the Scaled team has tran-
sitioned the vehicle and associated
knowledge to the Stratolaunch team,”
Scaled said in its own release Oct. 11.
“Scaled wishes Stratolaunch success as
it continues to work towards commer-
cial operation of its launch system.”
The announcement came a year af-
ter the death of company founder Paul
Allen.
Few details about the change in
ownership were available, including Stratolaunch photograph
who the new owners are. The Stratolaunch aircraft lands at the Mojave Air and Space Port April 13, 2019, following its first flight. On Oct. 11, the company announced a “transition in
The company did say, in its release, ownership” but did not specify who the new owners are. The same day, Scaled Composites, who built the aircraft, announced they had transferred ownership
that “Our near-term launch vehicle de- of the aircraft to Stratolaunch LLC.
velopment strategy focuses on provid-
ing customizable, reusable, and afford- flight-proven aircraft.” death, and the first flight, there had said early last that the company had has flown 44 times since 1990. It’s
able rocket-powered testbed vehicles Vulcan Inc., Allen’s holding compa- been media speculation that the com- bought the two Pegasus rockets back dropped from Northrop Grumman’s
and associated flight services. ny, was Stratolaunch’s previous owner. pany’s assets were for sale, or that the from Stratolaunch. own carrier jet, a modified L-1011
“As we continue on our mis- The twin-fuselage aircraft com- company was closing down. Northrop Grumman is also the own- named “Stargazer.”
sion, Stratolaunch will bring the pleted its first, and to date only, test Previously, Stratolaunch had bought er of Scaled Composites. Stratolaunch had said its larger car-
carrier aircraft test and operations flight on April 13, 2019, over Califor- two Pegasus XL satellite launchers The flying launch pad is powered by
program fully in-house. We thank nia’s Mojave Desert. Since then, it has from Northrop Grumman, with plans six engines and has a wing span of 385 rier aircraft could accommodate up to
Vulcan Inc and Scaled Composites been stored in a hangar at the Mojave to conduct demonstration flights as feet, or 117 meters. three Pegasus rockets on a single flight,
for turning an ambitious idea into a Air and Space Port. Following Allen’s early as 2020. Northrop Grumman The air-launched Pegasus rocket while the L-1011 carries one at a time.

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