The Stratolaunch plane, the world's largest, performs a 4hr test flight in Mojave, California.
REUTERS
2/13
The gigantic Stratolaunch aircraft flew for its second time, taking to the skies over the Southern California desert.
AP
3/13
The six-engine jet with the world's longest wingspan took off from Mojave Air and Space Port two years after its maiden flight, following a change in ownership and purpose.
REUTERS
4/13
"We are airborne," the Stratolaunch company tweeted at about 7:30 a.m.
REUTERS
5/13
The behemoth safely touched down on its 28 wheels about three hours later and Stratolaunch called the flight test a success.
REUTERS
6/13
Named Roc, the twin-fuselage aircraft has a wingspan of 385 feet (117 meters).
REUTERS
7/13
It was developed by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen, who died just months before it flew for the first time in April 2019.
AP
8/13
Allen intended to use it as a carrier aircraft for space launches, carrying satellite-laden rockets beneath the center of the wing and releasing them at high altitude.
REUTERS
9/13
The new owners initially plan to use it as a carrier aircraft for launches of reusable hypersonic flight research vehicles.
REUTERS
10/13
Hypersonic describes flights at speeds of at least Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.
REUTERS
11/13
The Stratolaunch plane comes in for a landing over Virgin Orbit 747 Cosmic Girl after it performed a 2nd test flight in Mojave
REUTERS
12/13
The Stratolaunch plane comes in for a landing after it performed a 4hr test flight in Mojave.
REUTERS
13/13
The Stratolaunch aircraft is seen at Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California.
AP
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