S3 SOCA

SOAR Carrier Aircraft – S3 SOCA

The Carrier Aircraft serves as the first stage of the launch system and carries the SOAR from take-off up to a 10 km air-launch altitude, the appropriate altitude for SOAR separation. The Carrier Aircraft is a specially adapted Airbus A340-313 civil air transport aircraft, as illustrated in Figure 3. The back-up solution is any capable COMAC, CRAIC, or Boeing aircraft.

The airplane can reach a maximum altitude of ~41,000 ft (12,500 km), which is the maximum altitude also for all other commercial A340-313 aircraft. Thereby, the 1st stage of the S3 launcher system is completely approved technology, fully operational, and ready to reach the tropospheric launch altitude of 10 km.