World’s Largest Aircraft Takes To The Sky Over Mojave Desert

The gigantic Stratolaunch program, envisioned and spearheaded by the late Paul G. Allen, today successfully completed the first flight of the world’s largest all-composite aircraft, the Stratolaunch. With a dual fuselage design and wingspan greater than the length of an American football field, the Stratolaunch aircraft took flight at 0658 PDT from the Mojave Air & Space Port. Achieving a maximum speed of 189 miles per hour, the plane flew for 2.5 hours over the Mojave Desert at altitudes up to 17,000 feet. As part of the initial flight, the pilots evaluated aircraft performance and handling qualities before landing successfully back at the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Will Look For Evidence That Life Once Existed On Mars

The module that will carry the ExoMars rover and surface science platform from Earth to Mars has arrived in Italy for final integration preparations. The module, along with electrical ground support equipment, shipped from OHB System in Bremen, Germany, arrived on April 2 at Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy.