Roton totary rocket and SpaceShipOne replica at Heritage Park, Mojave spaceport, Mojave California

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The rotary rocket was an experimental system that merged a launch vehicle with a helicopter: spinning rotor blades, powered by tip jets, would lift the vehicle in the earliest stage of launch. Once the air density thinned to the point that helicopter flight was impractical, the vehicle would continue its ascent on pure rocket power. The concept never proved out. It was built and tested in Mojave, California, and is on display at Heritage Park, Mojave airport, California.

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Size: 4928px × 3263px
Location: Mojave California USA
Photo credit: © Len Wilcox / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: airport, america, burt, california, composites, heritage, memorial, mojave, park, port, rocket, rotan, rotary, roton, scaled, space, spaceport, spaceshipone, usa