Stratolaunch, the visionary company behind the world’s largest airplane, Roc, has achieved a historic milestone. The successful completion of the first-ever captive-carry flight presents the world with the cutting-edge capabilities of the powered and fueled-up hypersonic test vehicle named Stratolaunch Talon-A. This marks an important milestone in the company’s hypersonic flight program.
About Stratolaunch
Stratolaunch is an American aerospace company that creates high-speed flight test services. It was initially formed in 2011 to develop a new air-launched space transportation system, with its corporate headquarters in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, and was acquired by Cerberus Capital Management in 2019 after his death.
Stratolaunch’s primary focus is developing and operating the world’s largest airplane, the Stratolaunch Carrier, also known as “Roc”. Roc is a twin-fuselage aircraft with a wingspan of 385 feet (117 meters), making it the largest aircraft ever built by wingspan.
Shift in Focus of Stratolaunch
Stratolaunch, founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2011, initially embarked on an ambitious attempt to air-launch rockets from high altitudes, echoing Virgin Galactic’s approach. However, following Allen’s untimely passing in 2019, the company underwent a strategic shift in focus, directing its energies towards hypersonic research and development. Hypersonic vehicles, capable of reaching speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound, hold immense potential for diverse applications that include high-speed delivery and advanced defence systems.
Hypersonic Flight Testing
The hypersonic flight test involves launching a vehicle from a giant aircraft and seeing how it performs five times faster than the speed of sound. These tests are essential for improving the design of hypersonic vehicles and developing new technologies for them. Stratolaunch specializes in hypersonic flight testing, and its work is helping to make hypersonic travel a reality.
Hypersonic flight testing is essential for several reasons.
- First, it allows engineers to validate the design and performance of hypersonic vehicles in real-world conditions.
- Second, hypersonic flight testing can be used to develop new technologies for hypersonic flight, such as propulsion systems, heat shields, and navigation systems.
- Thirdly, hypersonic flight testing can gather data on the environment at hypersonic speeds, which can help improve our understanding of aerodynamics and other phenomena.
Stratolaunch has successfully conducted several hypersonic flight tests, including a captive carry flight with a fueled-up Stratolaunch Talon-A test vehicle.
Stratolaunch Talon-A
Stratolaunch is developing the Talon-A, a reusable, rocket-powered hypersonic flight vehicle. Its successful testing on Sunday, December 3, 2023, marks a critical moment in Stratolaunch Talon-A’s journey to establishing itself as a leading force in hypersonic technology. It is created to fly at speeds of Mach 5 to Mach 7 (3,800 to 5,200 mph) and can be used for different applications, including hypersonic research, military strategy, and commercial transportation.Â
Evaluation of Propulsion Performance
The primary objective of this flight was to carefully evaluate the performance of Talon-1’s propulsion system, the heart of its hypersonic capabilities. The vehicle’s liquid-propellant rocket engine is designed to generate the required push to propel Talon-1 to breathtaking hypersonic speeds. While Stratolaunch had previously conducted rigorous ground tests of the propulsion system, assessing its behavior under real-world flight conditions was imperative.
Success of Stratolaunch Talon-1 Mission
With Roc carrying Stratolaunch Talon-1 for three hours and 22 minutes, the flight originated from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Southern California. TA-1 remained securely attached to its carrier plane from liftoff to landing throughout this strictly planned mission. Stratolaunch representatives, elated by this success, called the flight a “significant step forward” in the company’s relentless pursuit of a powered flight with TA-1.
Future Partnerships
Stratolaunch is actively developing a diverse portfolio of hypersonic vehicles, including the reusable Stratolaunch Talon-A and the versatile Talon+ space plane. The company’s commitment to innovation has already paid off in secured customer contracts for its hypersonic services. A notable example is the agreement with Leidos, a prime contractor for the U.S. Navy’s Multiservice Advanced Capability Test Bed (MACH-TB), for five hypersonic flights with TA-1 vehicles.
This successful captive-carry flight is a testament to Stratolaunch’s remarkable progress in developing a sophisticated hypersonic launch platform. The company’s ongoing efforts for Stratolaunch Talon-A, driven by firm dedication and cutting-edge technology, have the potential to revolutionize hypersonic flight.
