Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Unveils Giant Plane for Private Space Launches Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen announced today (Dec. 13) that he is teaming up again with aerospace design mogul Burt Rutan to develop what the pair is calling a revolutionary approach to private space travel for cargo satellites, and eventually people. Pictured Above: An image rendering of the giant aircraft that will be used to launch private spacecraft carrying cargo and people into orbit on flights by Stratolaunch Systems, a venture unveiled by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen on Dec. 13, 2011. The billionaire investor and philanthropist unveiled the new company Stratolaunch Systems, which aims to create airport-like operations for space travel. The company, headquartered in Huntsville, Ala., will use a gargantuan twin-boom aircraft to launch a rocket and space capsule on missions to send commercial and government payloads, and ultimately paying passengers, into orbit.

Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen Unveils Giant Plane for Private Space Launches

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen announced today (Dec. 13) that he is teaming up again with aerospace design mogul Burt Rutan to develop what the pair is calling a revolutionary approach to private space travel for cargo satellites, and eventually people.

Pictured Above: An image rendering of the giant aircraft that will be used to launch private spacecraft carrying cargo and people into orbit on flights by Stratolaunch Systems, a venture unveiled by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen on Dec. 13, 2011.

The billionaire investor and philanthropist unveiled the new company Stratolaunch Systems, which aims to create airport-like operations for space travel. The company, headquartered in Huntsville, Ala., will use a gargantuan twin-boom aircraft to launch a rocket and space capsule on missions to send commercial and government payloads, and ultimately paying passengers, into orbit.