Stratolaunch aircraft tested in Mojave, aces first runway taxi

Test is key to moving project forward

Natalie Tarangioli
6:49 PM, Dec 18, 2017

The aircraft moved on its own down the runway for the first time. The aircraft could one day make space travel more "routine."

MOJAVE, Calif. - A scaled composites team successfully tested its new Stratolaunch aircraft in Mojave this past weekend. 

The giant aircraft aced its first taxi test and moved down the runway under its own power for the first time. The test is key to the project moving ahead. 

The company was founded by software billionaire Paul Allen, who hopes to use the plane to launch rockets into space in the future, making space travel more convenient, reliable and routine.

 

Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Print this article Back to Top

Local News