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The world’s largest aircraft emerged from a hangar in the Mojave Desert, California at the end of May to begin fuel testing.

At 117 metres wide, the Stratolaunch plane is wider than a football field. The aircraft is designed to make air-rocket launches in low-Earth orbit conditions a routine commute.

It’s designed to carry spacebound rockets, with a payload of up to 275 tons, reports the Seattle Times. The Stratolaunch commences take off on a runway with a rocket attached to its belly. It was designed by Seattle-based firm Vulcan Aerospace.

According to the Seattle Times, the plane weighs around 250 tons with no payload. With fuel and a fully loaded rocket, the plane can fly with a maximum takeoff weight of 650 tons — around the same weight as an commercial Airbus A380 carrying 550 passengers.

The stratolaunch is manned by a three-person crew in the right fuselage, including a pilot, co-pilot and a flight engineer. The left fuselage cockpit is designed to remain empty and is unpressurized.

The rocket is released after the plane reaches 35,000 feet. The rocket then fires its own engine and travels toward its orbit.

The Stratolaunch airplane is expected to make its first launch in 2019.
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