Stratolaunch, the company founded in 2011 by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, conducted the first test flight of the world's largest plane. "For the most part, the plane flew as predicted," said Thomas, a former F-16 Air Force fighter pilot. He's excited to witness the beginnings of the space industry's rising trend: using jets to launch satellites. It also can save on fuel costs, because the plane burns less fuel than a traditional rocket when it blasts off from Earth. If all goes as planned, Stratolaunch said the plane is expected to launch its first satellite sometime next year.

Source: CNN April 13, 2019 11:29 UTC