Comments on: Stratolaunch Systems: New Space Launch System Announced by Paul Allen http://blog.nss.org/?p=3167 Blogging for the creation of a spacefaring civilization Mon, 20 May 2013 12:54:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Steve Nixon http://blog.nss.org/?p=3167&cpage=1#comment-22965 Steve Nixon Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:02:44 +0000 http://blog.nss.org/?p=3167#comment-22965 This is quite puzzling. I have to wonder at the logic of building this massive new carrier aircraft, with the inevitable huge costs and delays associated with such a start-up, when a proven carrier is already available with a greater payload capacity and range: the Russian-built Antonov An-225, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-225 which has these general characteristics... Crew: 6 Payload: 250,000 kg (550,000 lb) Door dimensions: 440 x 640 cm (14.4 x 21 ft) Length: 84 m (275.6 ft) Wingspan: 88.4 m (290 ft 2 in) Height: 18.1 m (59.3 ft) Wing area: 905 m2 (9,743.7 sq ft)) Aspect ratio: 8.6 Cargo Volume: 1,300 m^3 (46,000 cu ft) Empty weight: 285,000 kg (628,315 lb) Max takeoff weight: 640,000 kg (1,323,000 lb) Powerplant: 6 × ZMKB Progress D-18 turbofans, 229.5 kN (51,600 lbf) each Takeoff run: 3,500 m (11,500 ft) with maximum payload Performance Maximum speed: 850 km/h (460 knots, 530 mph) Cruise speed: 800 km/h (430 knots, 500 mph) Range: ** With maximum fuel: 15,400 km (9,570 mi) With maximum payload: 4,000 km (2,500 mi)) Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,100 ft) Wing loading: 662.9 kg/m² (135.5 lb/ft²) Thrust/weight: 0.234 I note that the An-225 has interesting landing gear which enable it to operate from unpaved airstrips, such as grass. Also, other jet engines are available with greater thrust from GE and Rolls-Royce, up to 60,600 pounds force, which could be used to significantly upgrage the performance of either the An-225 or the StratoLaunch carrier aircraft. The An-225 has a much smaller (though still huge) wingspan. Is Rutan thinking of using a greater wingspan in order to enable operating at higher altitudes and/or lower speeds? What gives?!? This is quite puzzling. I have to wonder at the logic of building this massive new carrier aircraft, with the inevitable huge costs and delays associated with such a start-up, when a proven carrier is already available with a greater payload capacity and range: the Russian-built Antonov An-225, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonov_An-225
which has these general characteristics…

Crew: 6
Payload: 250,000 kg (550,000 lb)
Door dimensions: 440 x 640 cm (14.4 x 21 ft)
Length: 84 m (275.6 ft)
Wingspan: 88.4 m (290 ft 2 in)
Height: 18.1 m (59.3 ft)
Wing area: 905 m2 (9,743.7 sq ft))
Aspect ratio: 8.6
Cargo Volume: 1,300 m^3 (46,000 cu ft)
Empty weight: 285,000 kg (628,315 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 640,000 kg (1,323,000 lb)
Powerplant: 6 × ZMKB Progress D-18 turbofans, 229.5 kN (51,600 lbf) each
Takeoff run: 3,500 m (11,500 ft) with maximum payload

Performance
Maximum speed: 850 km/h (460 knots, 530 mph)
Cruise speed: 800 km/h (430 knots, 500 mph)
Range: ** With maximum fuel: 15,400 km (9,570 mi)
With maximum payload: 4,000 km (2,500 mi))

Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,100 ft)
Wing loading: 662.9 kg/m² (135.5 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.234

I note that the An-225 has interesting landing gear which enable it to operate from unpaved airstrips, such as grass. Also, other jet engines are available with greater thrust from GE and Rolls-Royce, up to 60,600 pounds force, which could be used to significantly upgrage the performance of either the An-225 or the StratoLaunch carrier aircraft.
The An-225 has a much smaller (though still huge) wingspan. Is Rutan thinking of using a greater wingspan in order to enable operating at higher altitudes and/or lower speeds? What gives?!?

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