Paul Allen to build behemoth plane for space launches:

The Microsoft co-founder’s Stratolaunch Systems plans to use the giant six-engine jet as a rocket launcher for satellites, cargo and tourists.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-paul-allen-spaceship-20111214,0,1197007.story

Allen, 58, wants to see the first flight within five years and declined to say how much the venture will cost, but he made clear that the program needs to move quickly now that NASA’s fleet of space shuttles has been retired.