Stratolaunch

This is the Stratolaunch, the private spacerace project funded by Paul Allen, (co-founder of Microsoft and the real brains of the two). The concept behind it is simple: it's cheaper to lift a rocket to the stratosphere via conventional aerodynamics, saving all the cost, fuel and weight of lower stage boosters. Once at high altitude, the rocket is launched from the platform.

The execution, however, is considerably more complex. The lifter component (that's the plane) weighs in at 500,000 lbs -- but of course it's reusable. It's currently undergoing ground prep trials. Piclick for more info.