Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review, January 21, 2022

Stratolaunch completes third flight test at Mojave

by Cathy Hansen
special to Aerotech News
Another exciting flight test day at Mojave Air
and Space Port saw the gigantic Stratolaunch
aircraft taking to the skies for her third flight at
8:47 a.m., Jan. 16.
She carries the nickname, ‘ROC’ after a
mythical giant bird, is the world’s largest air-
plane by wingspan.
In the left seat was senior test pilot, Mark
Giddings, with Evan Thomas as co-pilot.
Thomas is Stratolaunch’s director of flight op-
erations and piloted Roc’s first two test flights.
Jake Riley was onboard as the crew’s flight
engineer.
The massive twin-fuselage, six-engine air-
craft was designed by Burt Rutan and funded by
Paul G. Allen with the intent of being a mother-
ship that would launch rockets and satellites
into low Earth orbit. The mission changed after
the unfortunate death of Allen. When new own-
ers acquired Stratolaunch in 2018, the decision
was made to use ‘ROC’ as a launch platform
for hypersonic test vehicles that would reach
speeds of Mach 6.
The Talon-A is a hypersonic vehicle that
will offer customers a way of rapidly testing
advanced flight technologies. It can be fitted
out with different payloads and will be fully
reusable. Stratolaunch photographs
During a webcast, Stratolaunch design engi-
neer Grace Wang said six to eight flight tests Above: The Stratolaunch “Roc” soars over the Mojave Air and Space Port during
its successful third test flight Jan.16. Right: The Stratolaunch “Roc” sits on the
were planned in preparation for operational hy- flightline at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
personic launches. Stratolaunch’s chief technol-
ogy officer, Daniel Millman, said during a post-
landing teleconference that the next test flight During the flight, the crew accomplished Pacific. Our goal is to prove
would expand the envelope for landing-gear evaluation of the aircraft’s performance and we can go hypersonic. We
operation, and that the pylon for the Talon-A handling characteristics at altitudes up to will do that envelope expan-
hypersonic test vehicles would be installed for 23,500 feet and airspeeds up to 180 knots. The sion first and then with the
the fifth test flight. flight included validation of the left mid-main first reusable Talon — TA-
The first two Talon-A vehicles, TA-0 and gear, including door operations, and alternate 2, which will fly in 2023—
TA-1, are under development. Initial power-on gear extension. The complete gear is expected we will begin with glide
testing was completed in late December. to be cycled on the upcoming fourth test flight. tests, probably into Vandenberg, Space Force that we’ll be able to test them.”
Zachary Krevor, Stratolaunch president and According to a Stratolaunch press release, Base, Calif.” Giddings made a picture perfect landing on
chief operating officer, says the flight met all Millman said, “Before the end of the year we “By the end of 2024, we are targeting to have Runway 30 at Mojave Air and Space Port at
objectives and takes the company “one step plan to and hope to launch our first hypersonic a fleet of three fully reusable hypersonic test- 1:10 p.m., concluding a four hour, 23-minute
closer to hypersonic flight with our Talon ve- test vehicle, TA-1.” beds providing services for the nation in ad- test flight. It was the longest mission since the
hicles.” “It will also land — we will flare it into the vancing hypersonic payloads and other things first flight on April 13, 2019.

Photograph by Mark Burdick
The Stratolaunch “Roc” lands at the Mojave Air and Space Port Jan. 16 following a successful third test flight.

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