Ailing Stratolaunch gets a new owner

Stratolaunch, known for the ‘launch plane’ to get a rocket into space, has got a new owner. It has not been announced who the new owner is, but normal business operations would have resumed.

Stratolaunch announced this itself via messages on Twitter, among others. This shows that Vulcan Inc. no longer owns Stratolaunch, but that the company has passed to a new, unnamed owner. This would then have ensured that further development of a rocket launcher, which is to be used for commercial space travel, could be continued.

Stratolaunch had been struggling with financial problems for some time, and there were rumors that the company would close. The problems accelerated when founder Paul Allen, also co-founder of Microsoft, passed away last year. With the acquisition, Stratolaunch wants to be able to keep the further testing and development of the launch aircraft completely in its own hands.

Earlier this year, Stratolaunch recorded another successful test flight. The aircraft had a wingspan of 117 meters and was propelled by six engines. The intention is that it can bring rockets to a height of about 10 kilometers, after which they are launched into the air. The launch at height should make it easier to lift off the Earth’s surface because of the thin air.