Stratolaunch Systems, a US-based company, is currently building the world’s largest aircraft, The Roc, with a wingspan of 117 meters. The aircraft is designed to transport people and materials into the Earth’s orbit with the help of a detachable rocket. The project is led by Paul Allen and Burt Rutan, the main figures behind SpaceShipOne. The Roc is a transport aircraft that looks like two planes joined together, with a total weight of around 540,000 kilograms lifted by six 747 engines.
The Roc’s detachable rocket will be mounted in the middle of the aircraft and released at high altitude to reach its destination in the Earth’s orbit. The prototype is currently being built in a massive hangar, and if the planned tests in 2015 are successful, The Roc is expected to transport cargo and eventually people into the Earth’s orbit by 2016. However, many experts believe that this timeline is unrealistic, as both the aircraft and rocket require extensive testing and test flights to ensure safety.
Despite the challenges, The Roc represents a significant step forward in space transportation technology. The ability to transport people and materials into the Earth’s orbit with a single aircraft could revolutionize the space industry and open up new possibilities for space exploration and research. As the project progresses, it will be interesting to see how The Roc performs in tests and whether it can live up to its potential as the world’s largest and most advanced aircraft for space transportation.
