Stratolaunch hypersonic technology tested successfully
Stratolaunch's largest Roc aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight on March 9 from Mojave Air and Space Port in California. This giant has a wingspan of 117 meters and was specially created for aerial missile launches. The Roc flight took place over the Pacific Ocean, where the spacecraft «Talon-A», which is a miniature version of the space shuttle, was released.
This was the first Stratolaunch flight with a true payload designed for hypersonic flight. «Talon-A» never reached hypersonic speed, but Stratolaunch confirmed that it did reach high supersonic speeds, collecting valuable data for future missions.
Stratolaunch CEO Zachary Crevor noted the importance of this test and announced plans to launch the next aircraft, the TA-2, in the near future: «Although I cannot provide the specific altitude and speed that the TA achieved- 1, In connection with agreements with our clients, we are pleased to announce that in addition to fulfilling all core and client tasks, we have achieved high supersonic speeds approaching Mach 5 and collected a huge amount of data that has brought incredible benefits to our clients.
TA-1 is a «pioneer» for a subsequent version that will be both reusable and capable of reaching hypersonic speeds. According to Krevor, the flight of the company's next aircraft, TA-2, could take place as early as this year.
Stratolaunch, founded in 2011 with the goal of creating a giant rocket launch vehicle, has gone through a long development process. The company was funded by Microsoft founder and aviation enthusiast Paul Allen, who invested heavily in the project.
Over time, the aircraft's wingspan increased to 117 meters, almost twice that of the Boeing 747. Construction of the Stratolaunch was a complex and lengthy process, and the Roc was so large that regular flights seemed impractical.
The company also sought partnerships with other aerospace companies. At various times, Stratolaunch worked with SpaceX and Orbital ATK, but both of these partnerships failed. Ultimately, Stratolaunch announced the development of its own line of rockets.
After the death of Paul Allen in 2018, the company faced financial problems and its future was in question. Subsequently, in 2020, Stratolaunch was acquired by investment company Cerberus, allowing development to continue. Instead of orbital rockets, hypersonic vehicles will now be launched to test the technology, which is one of the priorities for the US military.
This flight was also an important moment for another aerospace company, Ursa Major Technologies. The TA-1 is powered by a Hadley rocket engine designed and built by Ursa Major, a company specializing in the development of rocket propulsion systems.