This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-16171482
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Microsoft founder Paul Allen unveils space-rocket plan | Microsoft founder Paul Allen unveils space-rocket plan |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has announced plans to launch unmanned rockets and carry cargo into space. | Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has announced plans to launch unmanned rockets and carry cargo into space. |
| The 58-year-old plans to develop a giant aircraft that would put spaceships into orbit, rather than lifting them off from a launch pad. | The 58-year-old plans to develop a giant aircraft that would put spaceships into orbit, rather than lifting them off from a launch pad. |
| Other moguls are in the private space race, too, after Nasa this year ended its 30-year space shuttle programme. | Other moguls are in the private space race, too, after Nasa this year ended its 30-year space shuttle programme. |
| Virgin Galactic is working on a commercial space venture which aims to fly passengers into sub-orbit by 2013. | |
| Aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan is a partner on Mr Allen's project, which is called Stratolaunch Systems. | Aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan is a partner on Mr Allen's project, which is called Stratolaunch Systems. |
| The project is the latest to be led by Silicon Valley tycoons who think they spy a gap in demand opened by the retirement of the US government's space shuttle programme. | The project is the latest to be led by Silicon Valley tycoons who think they spy a gap in demand opened by the retirement of the US government's space shuttle programme. |
| 'Never stop dreaming' | 'Never stop dreaming' |
| While Nasa put rockets into space from a launch pad, the Stratolaunch plan is to launch unmanned rockets from high-flying aircraft, and eventually undertake manned missions too. | While Nasa put rockets into space from a launch pad, the Stratolaunch plan is to launch unmanned rockets from high-flying aircraft, and eventually undertake manned missions too. |
| The developers said their aircraft could ferry cargo for the commercial satellite industry and the International Space Station. | The developers said their aircraft could ferry cargo for the commercial satellite industry and the International Space Station. |
| The giant plane would be powered by six 747 jumbo jet engines and have a wingspan of 385ft (117m), developers said. | The giant plane would be powered by six 747 jumbo jet engines and have a wingspan of 385ft (117m), developers said. |
| It would be wider than the biggest aircraft ever, legendary Hollywood tycoon Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose. | It would be wider than the biggest aircraft ever, legendary Hollywood tycoon Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose. |
| The first test flights are scheduled to begin in 2016. | The first test flights are scheduled to begin in 2016. |
| Mr Allen and Mr Rutan said that preliminary designs for the Stratolaunch aircraft have been put together over the course of 10 years. | Mr Allen and Mr Rutan said that preliminary designs for the Stratolaunch aircraft have been put together over the course of 10 years. |
| Construction has begun on a hangar in California's Mojave Desert, they said. | Construction has begun on a hangar in California's Mojave Desert, they said. |
| In 2004 the duo created SpaceShipOne, a sub-orbital rocket that became the first privately financed, manned spaceship. | In 2004 the duo created SpaceShipOne, a sub-orbital rocket that became the first privately financed, manned spaceship. |
| "When I was growing up, America's space programme was the symbol of aspiration," Mr Allen said at a news conference in Seattle. | "When I was growing up, America's space programme was the symbol of aspiration," Mr Allen said at a news conference in Seattle. |
| "For me, the fascination with space never ended. I never stopped dreaming what might be possible." | "For me, the fascination with space never ended. I never stopped dreaming what might be possible." |
| Stratolaunch's plane will carry a booster rocket on its belly, to be built by a space company owned by Elon Musk of PayPal, who has already built a successful commercial rocket. | Stratolaunch's plane will carry a booster rocket on its belly, to be built by a space company owned by Elon Musk of PayPal, who has already built a successful commercial rocket. |
| Other technology titans who have made forays into the private space industry include Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com. | Other technology titans who have made forays into the private space industry include Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com. |
| British tycoon Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic aims to take passengers into sub-orbital space. | |
| Dropping rockets into space is not a new technique, but can offer more launch flexibility and minimise weather constraints, developers said. | Dropping rockets into space is not a new technique, but can offer more launch flexibility and minimise weather constraints, developers said. |
| It can also save on rocket fuel. | It can also save on rocket fuel. |
| Orbital Sciences Corp, an older rocket company, has used this method of launching payloads such as unmanned rockets and satellites. | Orbital Sciences Corp, an older rocket company, has used this method of launching payloads such as unmanned rockets and satellites. |