After days of drama and suspense, President Trump announced Thursday that his administration will exit the Paris climate agreement.
"So we're getting out," Trump said. "The Paris accord is very unfair at the highest level to the United States."
Trump’s decision fulfills a campaign promise and satisfies strong Republican opposition to the global climate deal but also isolates the U.S. and is certain to bring condemnation from world leaders and critics in the scientific community.
Leaving the accord aligns the United States with Syria and Nicaragua.
Critics of the Paris agreement argue it hurts the economy but supporters say it will create jobs down the line.
“The Paris accord will undermine our economy,” Trump said, adding that it “puts us at a permanent disadvantage.”
“It’s time to exit,” he said.
The Paris Climate Agreement is a pact between nearly 200 nations to voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to fight climate change. The U.S., the world’s second largest emitter of carbon, would be required to reduce fossil fuel emissions nearly 30 percent by 2025.
Former President Barack Obama used his power as president to join the Paris Accord without a vote in the legislature. Similarly, Trump used his authority to call it quits.
The former president weighed in on Thursday’s news.
“Even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future, I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got,” Obama said in a statement.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called Trump’s decision “an abdication of American leadership and an international disgrace” while former Vice President Al Gore said it was “a reckless and indefensible action.”
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel applauded the news and credited Trump with delivering “on his campaign promise to put American workers first.”
“The president is sending a clear message that we will no longer remain beholden to burdensome international deals at the expense of our taxpayers,” she said. “I commend the president for making this decision that will save the U.S. economy from the loss of millions of jobs and trillions in economic output.”
Trump hyped-up his announcement Wednesday on Twitter – prompting American allies around the world to weigh in on the consequences of the U.S. withdrawing from the global pact.
At a speech in Berlin, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that fighting climate change is a "global consensus" and an "international responsibility."
Though there are no legal ramifications for pulling out of the accord, it does alienate America and diminish its standing as a global leader.
Miguel Canete, the European Union's top climate change official, said the decision to pull out of the Paris accord makes it "a sad day for the global community."
He also predicted that the EU would seek new alliances from the world’s largest economies to the most vulnerable island states, as well as U.S. businesses and individuals supportive of the accord.
“We are on the right side of history,” he said.
Trump, who announced his decision from the White House Rose Garden, campaigned against the climate agreement during the 2016 election season.
As a candidate, Trump vowed to “cancel” the Paris climate deal during his first major policy speech on energy in March 2016. In that same speech, he slammed “draconian climate rules” and vowed to cut any funding for United Nations programs related to combatting climate change. In the past, Trump has refused to acknowledge that humans contribute to climate change and has dismissed it as a hoax.
Though the Paris Climate Agreement is not legally binding, the decision to either stay or withdraw has been deeply polarizing not only with lawmakers but also members of Trump’s inner circle.
Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon as well as EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt had been pressing the president to exit the deal. Both sat in the front row during Thursday’s announcement and applauded.
Trump’s daughter Ivanka as well as business leaders and other U.S. allies have been pushing pro-Paris agenda for weeks. Business leaders including Apple's Tim Cook and Tesla’s Elon Musk were among those who lobbied Trump to stay in the agreement.
Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer tweeted, “Generations of Americans will suffer the destructive effects of Trump’s greedy, selfish, and immoral decision.”
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Paris Agreement on climate change: US withdraws as Trump calls it 'unfair'
After days of drama and suspense, President Trump announced Thursday that his administration will exit the Paris climate agreement.
"So we're getting out," Trump said. "The Paris accord is very unfair at the highest level to the United States."
Trump’s decision fulfills a campaign promise and satisfies strong Republican opposition to the global climate deal but also isolates the U.S. and is certain to bring condemnation from world leaders and critics in the scientific community.
Leaving the accord aligns the United States with Syria and Nicaragua.
Critics of the Paris agreement argue it hurts the economy but supporters say it will create jobs down the line.
“The Paris accord will undermine our economy,” Trump said, adding that it “puts us at a permanent disadvantage.”
“It’s time to exit,” he said.
The Paris Climate Agreement is a pact between nearly 200 nations to voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to fight climate change. The U.S., the world’s second largest emitter of carbon, would be required to reduce fossil fuel emissions nearly 30 percent by 2025.
Former President Barack Obama used his power as president to join the Paris Accord without a vote in the legislature. Similarly, Trump used his authority to call it quits.
The former president weighed in on Thursday’s news.
“Even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future, I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got,” Obama said in a statement.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called Trump’s decision “an abdication of American leadership and an international disgrace” while former Vice President Al Gore said it was “a reckless and indefensible action.”
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel applauded the news and credited Trump with delivering “on his campaign promise to put American workers first.”
“The president is sending a clear message that we will no longer remain beholden to burdensome international deals at the expense of our taxpayers,” she said. “I commend the president for making this decision that will save the U.S. economy from the loss of millions of jobs and trillions in economic output.”
Trump hyped-up his announcement Wednesday on Twitter – prompting American allies around the world to weigh in on the consequences of the U.S. withdrawing from the global pact.
At a speech in Berlin, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that fighting climate change is a "global consensus" and an "international responsibility."
Though there are no legal ramifications for pulling out of the accord, it does alienate America and diminish its standing as a global leader.
Miguel Canete, the European Union's top climate change official, said the decision to pull out of the Paris accord makes it "a sad day for the global community."
He also predicted that the EU would seek new alliances from the world’s largest economies to the most vulnerable island states, as well as U.S. businesses and individuals supportive of the accord.
“We are on the right side of history,” he said.
Trump, who announced his decision from the White House Rose Garden, campaigned against the climate agreement during the 2016 election season.
As a candidate, Trump vowed to “cancel” the Paris climate deal during his first major policy speech on energy in March 2016. In that same speech, he slammed “draconian climate rules” and vowed to cut any funding for United Nations programs related to combatting climate change. In the past, Trump has refused to acknowledge that humans contribute to climate change and has dismissed it as a hoax.
Though the Paris Climate Agreement is not legally binding, the decision to either stay or withdraw has been deeply polarizing not only with lawmakers but also members of Trump’s inner circle.
Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon as well as EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt had been pressing the president to exit the deal. Both sat in the front row during Thursday’s announcement and applauded.
Trump’s daughter Ivanka as well as business leaders and other U.S. allies have been pushing pro-Paris agenda for weeks. Business leaders including Apple's Tim Cook and Tesla’s Elon Musk were among those who lobbied Trump to stay in the agreement.
Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer tweeted, “Generations of Americans will suffer the destructive effects of Trump’s greedy, selfish, and immoral decision.”
"So we're getting out," Trump said. "The Paris accord is very unfair at the highest level to the United States."
Trump’s decision fulfills a campaign promise and satisfies strong Republican opposition to the global climate deal but also isolates the U.S. and is certain to bring condemnation from world leaders and critics in the scientific community.
Leaving the accord aligns the United States with Syria and Nicaragua.
Critics of the Paris agreement argue it hurts the economy but supporters say it will create jobs down the line.
“The Paris accord will undermine our economy,” Trump said, adding that it “puts us at a permanent disadvantage.”
“It’s time to exit,” he said.
The Paris Climate Agreement is a pact between nearly 200 nations to voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to fight climate change. The U.S., the world’s second largest emitter of carbon, would be required to reduce fossil fuel emissions nearly 30 percent by 2025.
Former President Barack Obama used his power as president to join the Paris Accord without a vote in the legislature. Similarly, Trump used his authority to call it quits.
The former president weighed in on Thursday’s news.
“Even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future, I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got,” Obama said in a statement.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called Trump’s decision “an abdication of American leadership and an international disgrace” while former Vice President Al Gore said it was “a reckless and indefensible action.”
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel applauded the news and credited Trump with delivering “on his campaign promise to put American workers first.”
“The president is sending a clear message that we will no longer remain beholden to burdensome international deals at the expense of our taxpayers,” she said. “I commend the president for making this decision that will save the U.S. economy from the loss of millions of jobs and trillions in economic output.”
Trump hyped-up his announcement Wednesday on Twitter – prompting American allies around the world to weigh in on the consequences of the U.S. withdrawing from the global pact.
At a speech in Berlin, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that fighting climate change is a "global consensus" and an "international responsibility."
Though there are no legal ramifications for pulling out of the accord, it does alienate America and diminish its standing as a global leader.
Miguel Canete, the European Union's top climate change official, said the decision to pull out of the Paris accord makes it "a sad day for the global community."
He also predicted that the EU would seek new alliances from the world’s largest economies to the most vulnerable island states, as well as U.S. businesses and individuals supportive of the accord.
“We are on the right side of history,” he said.
Trump, who announced his decision from the White House Rose Garden, campaigned against the climate agreement during the 2016 election season.
As a candidate, Trump vowed to “cancel” the Paris climate deal during his first major policy speech on energy in March 2016. In that same speech, he slammed “draconian climate rules” and vowed to cut any funding for United Nations programs related to combatting climate change. In the past, Trump has refused to acknowledge that humans contribute to climate change and has dismissed it as a hoax.
Though the Paris Climate Agreement is not legally binding, the decision to either stay or withdraw has been deeply polarizing not only with lawmakers but also members of Trump’s inner circle.
Trump’s chief strategist Steve Bannon as well as EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt had been pressing the president to exit the deal. Both sat in the front row during Thursday’s announcement and applauded.
Trump’s daughter Ivanka as well as business leaders and other U.S. allies have been pushing pro-Paris agenda for weeks. Business leaders including Apple's Tim Cook and Tesla’s Elon Musk were among those who lobbied Trump to stay in the agreement.
Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer tweeted, “Generations of Americans will suffer the destructive effects of Trump’s greedy, selfish, and immoral decision.”
At least 25 bodies found in Manila casino
At least 25 bodies have been found in a casino and hotel complex in the Philippines, following a shooting incident by a gunman, local media said.
Most of the dead appear to have suffocated from thick smoke after the man set fire to casino tables, news outlet ABS-CBN reported.
The gunman began shooting at TV monitors in Resorts World Manila in the early hours of Friday morning.
Police said he later killed himself by setting himself on fire.
The unnamed man, armed with an assault rifle, sparked a security lockdown and a manhunt in the complex, which ended when his body was found in a hotel room.
More than 50 people have been sent to a hospital to be treated for injuries.
Police said on Friday morning the incident appeared to have been a robbery attempt, and was not terror-related.
Most of the dead appear to have suffocated from thick smoke after the man set fire to casino tables, news outlet ABS-CBN reported.
The gunman began shooting at TV monitors in Resorts World Manila in the early hours of Friday morning.
Police said he later killed himself by setting himself on fire.
The unnamed man, armed with an assault rifle, sparked a security lockdown and a manhunt in the complex, which ended when his body was found in a hotel room.
More than 50 people have been sent to a hospital to be treated for injuries.
Police said on Friday morning the incident appeared to have been a robbery attempt, and was not terror-related.
Obama’s harsh words for Trump after Paris withdrawal
The Paris climate agreement was a step forward. President Trump's decision to withdraw from the landmark agreement was several giant steps in the opposite direction.
That's the underlying message of former president Barack Obama's statement on his successor's controversial move.
Brief and to the point, Obama never mentions Trump by name. Instead, he pointedly refers to the “absence of American leadership,” a jabbing phrase that for many Trump critics extends beyond the climate agreement.
Statement from President Barack Obama on the Paris climate agreement:
A year and a half ago, the world came together in Paris around the first-ever global agreement to set the world on a low-carbon course and protect the world we leave to our children.
It was steady, principled American leadership on the world stage that made that achievement possible.
[Transcript: President Trump’s remarks on leaving the Paris climate deal, annotated]
It was bold American ambition that encouraged dozens of other nations to set their sights higher as well. And what made that leadership and ambition possible was America’s private innovation and public investment in growing industries like wind and solar — industries that created some of the fastest new streams of good-paying jobs in recent years, and contributed to the longest streak of job creation in our history.
Simply put, the private sector already chose a low-carbon future. And for the nations that committed themselves to that future, the Paris Agreement opened the floodgates for businesses, scientists, and engineers to unleash high-tech, low-carbon investment and innovation on an unprecedented scale.
[Trump announces U.S. will exit Paris climate deal]
The nations that remain in the Paris Agreement will be the nations that reap the benefits in jobs and industries created. I believe the United States of America should be at the front of the pack.
But even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got.
That's the underlying message of former president Barack Obama's statement on his successor's controversial move.
Brief and to the point, Obama never mentions Trump by name. Instead, he pointedly refers to the “absence of American leadership,” a jabbing phrase that for many Trump critics extends beyond the climate agreement.
Statement from President Barack Obama on the Paris climate agreement:
A year and a half ago, the world came together in Paris around the first-ever global agreement to set the world on a low-carbon course and protect the world we leave to our children.
It was steady, principled American leadership on the world stage that made that achievement possible.
[Transcript: President Trump’s remarks on leaving the Paris climate deal, annotated]
It was bold American ambition that encouraged dozens of other nations to set their sights higher as well. And what made that leadership and ambition possible was America’s private innovation and public investment in growing industries like wind and solar — industries that created some of the fastest new streams of good-paying jobs in recent years, and contributed to the longest streak of job creation in our history.
Simply put, the private sector already chose a low-carbon future. And for the nations that committed themselves to that future, the Paris Agreement opened the floodgates for businesses, scientists, and engineers to unleash high-tech, low-carbon investment and innovation on an unprecedented scale.
[Trump announces U.S. will exit Paris climate deal]
The nations that remain in the Paris Agreement will be the nations that reap the benefits in jobs and industries created. I believe the United States of America should be at the front of the pack.
But even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way, and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got.
UN steps up climate change warning as Trump mulls Paris Agreement
Donald Trump refers to amounts of temperature change as he announces his decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement [Joshua Roberts/Reuters]Reaction to President Donald Trump's announcement that the United States would withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement came fast and furious with nations and individuals denouncing the move as dangerously shortsighted.While ecological and human catastrophe from climate change was highlighted by critics, many also pointed out the economic fallout for the US as the world shifts to a clean-energy economy. They also noted in geopolitical terms, the United States' traditional role as a global leader has been seriously diminished by Trump's decision on Thursday.
Former president Barack Obama, who ratified the 2015 Paris Accord along nearly 200 other countries, said the move by the Trump administration goes against the "low-carbon future" that is already fully under way, and the United States will ultimately lose over the move.
"The Paris agreement opened the floodgates for businesses, scientists, and engineers to unleash high-tech, low-carbon investment and innovation on an unprecedented scale. The nations that remain in the Paris agreement will be the nations that reap the benefits in jobs and industries created," Obama said in a statement.
WATCH: The politics of climate change in the United States
It is now up to governments of US states and cities "to lead the way and help protect for future generations the one planet we've got", Obama added.
UN steps up climate change warning as Trump mulls Paris Agreement
The European Union's top climate change official said Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris accord makes it "a sad day for the global community".
Miguel Arias Canete, the EU's climate action commissioner, said in a statement the bloc "deeply regrets the unilateral decision by the Trump administration".
He said the 2015 agreement will endure and he pledged "the world can continue to count on Europe for global leadership".
Canete also predicted the EU would seek new alliances from the world's largest economies to the most vulnerable island states, as well as US businesses and individuals supportive of the accord.
"We are on the right side of history," Canete said.
China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gasses, vowed to continue combatting global warming.
"We realise that this is a global consensus agreement and that as a big developing nation we should shoulder our international responsibility," Premier Li Keqiang said.
The United States' decision to withdraw from the landmark Paris climate agreement was a "major disappointment for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote global security", UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "remains confident that cities, states and businesses within the United States - along with other countries - will continue to demonstrate vision and leadership by working for the low-carbon, resilient economic growth that will create quality jobs and markets for 21st century prosperity", Dujarric said.
Climate change in pictures
Meanwhile, Germany, France and Italy issued a joint statement rejecting Trump's demand that the Paris climate agreement be re-negotiated.
"We deem the momentum generated in Paris in December 2015 irreversible and we firmly believe that the Paris agreement cannot be renegotiated, since it is a vital instrument for our planet, societies, and economies," the leaders of the three countries said.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who made a televised address in French and English, said Trump had "committed an error for the interests of his country, his people, and a mistake for the future of our planet".
"I tell you firmly tonight: We will not renegotiate a less ambitious accord. There is no way," said Macron.
Neil Hirst, from the Imperial College of London, told Al Jazeera Trump's decision marks the decline of American leadership on the world stage.
"Now we're seeing the withdrawal of American leadership. Donald Trump is basically tearing up the whole basis of the climate convention and saying, 'No, I want to take a narrow' - and misguided I would say - 'nationalistic view on what we're going to do,'" Hirst said.
China may be poised to fill the leadership breach. Beijing is already making rapid progress towards its Paris goal of stopping emissions growth by 2030. It has overtaken the US in transitioning to renewable energy, generating one-fifth of its electricity from renewable sources. The US only sources about 13 percent of its electricity from renewables.
Building better cities - Earthrise
Trump also lost the support of a top billionaire business leader over his decision.
Elon Musk - the founder of SpaceX and Tesla among other companies - wrote on Twitter he is "departing presidential councils", something he had vowed to do if Trump took this step.
"Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world," Musk said.
General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt, another member of Trump's business councils, wrote on Twitter he is "disappointed" with Trump's decision on Paris.
"Industry must now lead and not depend on government," Immelt wrote on Twitter.
Former secretary of state John Kerry said Trump's decision was "a self-destructive step" that puts America last.
Kerry - who signed the agreement at the UN in 2016 with his granddaughter seated on his lap - called it "an unprecedented forfeiture of American leadership, which will cost us influence, cost us jobs, and invite other countries to walk away from solving humanity's most existential crisis".
OPINION: A final warning on climate change
Kerry described the move as "an ignorant, cynical appeal to an anti-science, special-interest faction far outside the mainstream".
"That is no basis for a decision that will affect billions of lives," Kerry said in a statement.
Among the scientific community, Britain's prestigious Royal Society said Trump's move would hamper US innovation in cleaner technology.
"The future is in newer, cleaner and renewable technologies, not in fossil fuels," its President Venki Ramakrishnan said.
"Such technologies will also help in our fight against air pollution and ensure greater energy security globally. President Trump is not putting America first, he is tethering it to the past."
Russian President Vladimir Putin hails Donald Trump as 'straightforward person'
Vladimir Putin has praised Donald Trump as "a straightforward person" and claimed the current "Russo-phobic hysteria" in the US was aimed at preventing them working together.
The Russian leader also denied the Kremlin had ever engaged in hacking, but acknowledged some "patriotic" individuals may have carried out cyberattacks.
US intelligence agencies have accused Russia of hacking into and leaking Democratic Party emails, helping Mr Trump to victory in last year's presidential election.
Congressional and FBI investigations are under way into links between the Kremlin and Mr Trump's campaign.
:: Former FBI director to testify in Russia inquiry
The Russian President criticised what he branded "Russo-phobic hysteria" in the US and said it made it "somewhat inconvenient to work with one another or even to talk" and added "someday this will have to stop".
The aim was to "establish an atmosphere that is going to prevent us from addressing common issues, say with regard to terrorism," he claimed.
He said Moscow had been encouraged by Mr Trump's campaign promises to improve Russia-US relations and expressed hope this could still happen.
"We are patient, we know how to wait and we will wait," Mr Putin said.
:: Farage dismisses Russia investigation link
The Russian leader hailed Mr Trump as "a straightforward person, a frank person" and said he viewed his US counterpart's lack of political background as beneficial because "he has a fresh set of eyes".
Image:Donald Trump's lack of political background gives him 'a fresh set of eyes', says Mr Putin
Speaking at a meeting with senior editors of leading international news agencies in St Petersburg, Mr Putin denied state involvement in hacking insisting "we never engage in that at the state level".
However, he said it was "theoretically possible" heightened tensions between Moscow and the West could lead some people to launch cyberattacks.
Mr Putin said: "Hackers are free people, just like artists who wake up in the morning in a good mood and start painting.
"The hackers are the same. They would wake up, read about something going on in interstate relations and if they feel patriotic, they may try to contribute to the fight against those who speak badly about Russia."
He also argued hackers could not influence the outcome of elections as public opinion was not that easy to manipulate.
US intelligence agencies have accused Russia of hacking into and leaking Democratic Party emails, helping Mr Trump to victory in last year's presidential election.
Congressional and FBI investigations are under way into links between the Kremlin and Mr Trump's campaign.
:: Former FBI director to testify in Russia inquiry
The Russian President criticised what he branded "Russo-phobic hysteria" in the US and said it made it "somewhat inconvenient to work with one another or even to talk" and added "someday this will have to stop".
The aim was to "establish an atmosphere that is going to prevent us from addressing common issues, say with regard to terrorism," he claimed.
He said Moscow had been encouraged by Mr Trump's campaign promises to improve Russia-US relations and expressed hope this could still happen.
"We are patient, we know how to wait and we will wait," Mr Putin said.
:: Farage dismisses Russia investigation link
The Russian leader hailed Mr Trump as "a straightforward person, a frank person" and said he viewed his US counterpart's lack of political background as beneficial because "he has a fresh set of eyes".
Image:Donald Trump's lack of political background gives him 'a fresh set of eyes', says Mr PutinSpeaking at a meeting with senior editors of leading international news agencies in St Petersburg, Mr Putin denied state involvement in hacking insisting "we never engage in that at the state level".
However, he said it was "theoretically possible" heightened tensions between Moscow and the West could lead some people to launch cyberattacks.
Mr Putin said: "Hackers are free people, just like artists who wake up in the morning in a good mood and start painting.
"The hackers are the same. They would wake up, read about something going on in interstate relations and if they feel patriotic, they may try to contribute to the fight against those who speak badly about Russia."
He also argued hackers could not influence the outcome of elections as public opinion was not that easy to manipulate.
Giant satellite-carrying Stratolaunch aircraft unveiled in California
A giant aircraft capable of launching satellite-laden rockets into space has been unveiled at a hangar in the Mojave desert in California.
Stratolaunch, said to be the largest airliner ever built, weighs 500,000lbs (226,796kg) and has a wingspan measuring 385ft (117 metres) - the world's biggest.
Image:Pic: Stratolaunch Systems Corp
Backed by billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the project has been worked on for the last six years and could see its first launch demonstration as early as 2019.
In a blog post, Stratolaunch Systems Corporation chief executive Jean Floyd said: "This marks a historic step in our work to achieve Paul G Allen's vision of normalising access to low Earth orbit.
Image:Pic: Stratolaunch Systems Corp
"This is a first-of-its-kind aircraft, so we're going to be diligent throughout testing."
The aircraft will begin testing its fuel systems and engines on the ground at its air and space port in the California desert in the next few weeks.
Image:Pic: Stratolaunch Systems Corp
Support structures were recently removed from the plane, allowing it to rest on its 28 wheels for the first time.
Powered by huge passenger jet engines, Stratolaunch will be able to carry a rocket and will be capable of launching satellites and possibly even humans into low-Earth orbit, Mr Allen said at its launch six years ago.
Image:Pic: Stratolaunch Systems Corp
He added the project would lead to a greater flexibility than ground-based rocket launches and offer better cost effectiveness for cargo and human missions to space.
Stratolaunch, said to be the largest airliner ever built, weighs 500,000lbs (226,796kg) and has a wingspan measuring 385ft (117 metres) - the world's biggest.
Image:Pic: Stratolaunch Systems CorpBacked by billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the project has been worked on for the last six years and could see its first launch demonstration as early as 2019.
In a blog post, Stratolaunch Systems Corporation chief executive Jean Floyd said: "This marks a historic step in our work to achieve Paul G Allen's vision of normalising access to low Earth orbit.
Image:Pic: Stratolaunch Systems Corp"This is a first-of-its-kind aircraft, so we're going to be diligent throughout testing."
The aircraft will begin testing its fuel systems and engines on the ground at its air and space port in the California desert in the next few weeks.
Image:Pic: Stratolaunch Systems CorpSupport structures were recently removed from the plane, allowing it to rest on its 28 wheels for the first time.
Powered by huge passenger jet engines, Stratolaunch will be able to carry a rocket and will be capable of launching satellites and possibly even humans into low-Earth orbit, Mr Allen said at its launch six years ago.
Image:Pic: Stratolaunch Systems CorpHe added the project would lead to a greater flexibility than ground-based rocket launches and offer better cost effectiveness for cargo and human missions to space.
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