Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen unveiled the world's largest aircraft on Wednesday.
The massive plane rolled out by Allen's aerospace firm, Stratolaunch Systems, features the longest wingspan of any aircraft ever built, according to Popular Mechanics.
With a wingspan of 385 feet, the six-engine plane will be larger than Howard Hughes' 1947 H-4 Hercules, known as the 'Spruce Goose,' and the Antonov An-225, a Soviet-era cargo plane originally built to transport the Buran space shuttle that is currently the world's largest aircraft.
The Stratolaunch is an aircraft that is designed tocarry rockets between its two fuselages.
In 2011, the project's cost was initially estimated to be at $300million, though there is no word as to the updated figures.
After the plane reaches altitude, it would then drop the launch vehicle, which will subsequently fire its boosters and launch into space from the air.
The massive plane rolled out by Allen's aerospace firm, Stratolaunch Systems, features the longest wingspan of any aircraft ever built, according to Popular Mechanics.
With a wingspan of 385 feet, the six-engine plane will be larger than Howard Hughes' 1947 H-4 Hercules, known as the 'Spruce Goose,' and the Antonov An-225, a Soviet-era cargo plane originally built to transport the Buran space shuttle that is currently the world's largest aircraft.
The Stratolaunch is an aircraft that is designed tocarry rockets between its two fuselages.
In 2011, the project's cost was initially estimated to be at $300million, though there is no word as to the updated figures.
After the plane reaches altitude, it would then drop the launch vehicle, which will subsequently fire its boosters and launch into space from the air.
The Stratolaunch, seen above being rolled out of its hangar in California's Mojave Desert on Wednesday, is an aircraft that is designed to carry rockets between its two fuselages.
The Stratolaunch weights approximately 500,000 pounds without any cargo.
It is designed to carry a maximum takeoff weight of 1.3million pounds.
The plane was built by Scaled Composites, an aerospace company founded by Allen's partner in the Stratolaunch project, Burt Rutan.
The Stratolaunch weights approximately 500,000 pounds without any cargo.
It is designed to carry a maximum takeoff weight of 1.3million pounds.
The plane was built by Scaled Composites, an aerospace company founded by Allen's partner in the Stratolaunch project, Burt Rutan.
The plane rolls around with the aid of 28 wheels.
Once airborne, it is powered by six 747 aircraft engines.
Once airborne, it is powered by six 747 aircraft engines.
The advantage of Allen's (above) approach will be the ability to position the plane so satellites can be directly delivered into very precise orbits and do so quickly, without launch range scheduling issues and weather-related delays.
Traditionally, satellites and other aircraft have been launched into space from a launchpad.
Allen made his fortune alongside Bill Gates.
The two men co-founded Microsoft, which changed the way the world uses personal computers.
Traditionally, satellites and other aircraft have been launched into space from a launchpad.
Allen made his fortune alongside Bill Gates.
The two men co-founded Microsoft, which changed the way the world uses personal computers.
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