το μεγαλύτερο αεροσκάφος στο κόσμο είναι έτοιμο για απογείωση

1 Μαρτίου, 2018
Κατηγορία ΤΕΧΝΟΛΟΓΙΑ
0 σχόλια

Το μεγαλύτερο αεροπλάνο στον πλανήτη είναι ένα βήμα πιο κοντά στην πρώτη του πτήση αφού περάσει άλλο ένα σημαντικό ορόσημο.

Με το όνομα Stratolaunch, το αεροσκάφος - το οποίο έχει ένα πτέρυγα μακρύτερο από ένα γήπεδο ποδοσφαίρου - έσπευσε κάτω από το διάδρομο σε 40 κόμβους (46 μίλια / 74 χλμ. / Ώρα) στην τελευταία δοκιμή ταξί χαμηλής ταχύτητας, εκτοξεύοντας και τους έξι από τους κινητήρες των 8.940 κιλών (4.000 κιλά).

Μόλις ολοκληρωθούν οι δοκιμές, το αεροσκάφος θα βοηθήσει να πυροδοτήσει δορυφόρους και άλλα αντικείμενα στο διάστημα, συμπεριλαμβανομένου ενός διαστημοπλοίου "Dream Chaser" που θα μπορούσε να μεταφέρει αστροναύτες ή ωφέλιμους φορτίο προς και από χαμηλή τροχιά της Γης μέσα σε 24 ώρες.

Το Stratolaunch, το οποίο είναι τόσο μεγάλο που χρειάζεται δίδυμες ατράκτους, το καθένα εξοπλισμένο με το δικό του πιλοτήριο, αναμένεται να πάρει στον ουρανό για πρώτη φορά το 2019.

Once testing is complete, the aircraft will help to fire satellites and other objects into space, including a 'Dream Chaser' spaceship that could shuttle astronauts or payloads to and from low Earth orbit within 24 hours. The Stratolaunch is expected to take to the skies for the first time in 2019 The main purpose of the test (pictured), which took place at California's Mojave Air and Space Port, was to put the aircraft¿s ability to steer and stop through its paces The world's biggest plane is a step closer to its first flight, after passing another major milestone. During the aircraft's first low-speed taxi test, Stratolaunch successfully travelled down the runway at 25 knots (28 miles per hour). Once testing has been completed, the aircraft will be used to launch satellites and other craft into space The graphic above illustrates the Stratolaunch's wingspan compared to other aircraft models, including the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and the Airbus A380-800 A ground team from Stratolaunch Systems Corp monitored a number of systems, including steering, braking, anti-skid and telemetry Traditionally, satellites and other aircraft have been launched into space from a launchpad, which requires a tremendous amount of fuel. The Stratolaunch (pictured in December), on the other hand, will enable rockets carrying these objects to have a 'head start' since they will be carried into the sky before they launch into space Since the first engine runs in September, the Stratolaunch team has performed a series of engine tests from a newly established Stratolaunch Mission Control Center, located at its facility at the Mojave Air and Space Port. Pictured is the vehicle during a test flight in December The company Mission Control Centre at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California serves as the Seattle-based firm's hub for testing communications and will eventually be the centre of its aircraft and launch operations. Pictured is the Once low-speed taxi tests have been safely completed, the company will begin the next phase of taxi testing, which will include increased speeds. Test flights are currently planned for 2019 Over the next few months, the firm plans to continue to test the aircraft¿s engines at higher power levels and varying configurations Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen unveiled the world's largest aircraft in June 2017. The massive plane rolled out by Allen's aerospace firm, Stratolaunch Systems, features the longest wingspan of any aircraft ever built In 2016, Stratolaunch signed a deal with aerospace and defense firm Orbital ATK. Under terms of the deal, the Stratolaunch will propel Orbital's Pegasus XL rocket, which is used to send small satellites into space