Paul Allen’s Space Firm Details Plans for Rockets, Cargo Vehicle

A new family of launch vehicles including air-launch system, medium-lift rockets and a reusable space cargo plane, are seen in this artist's rendering image released by Stratolaunch Systems Corp, the space company of billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, based in Seattle, Washington, U.S., on August 20, 2018. Courtesy Stratolaunch/Handout via REUTERS

SEATTLE—The space company of billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen on Aug. 20 unveiled details of medium-lift rockets and a reusable space cargo plane it is developing, injecting more competition into the lucrative launch services market.

With its rockets, Allen’s Stratolaunch Systems Corp is trying to cash in on higher demand in the coming years for vessels that can put satellites into orbit. But his vehicles will have to compete domestically with other space entrepreneurs and industry stalwarts such as Elon Musk’s SpaceX and United Launch Alliance—a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.