Monday, December 4, 2023

Stratolaunch Completes New Flight Test

Mojave-based Stratolaunch, which operates the world's largest currently operating airplane, said on Sunday that it has completed a "captive carry" flight test with its new, Talon-A hypersonic vehicle. The company--under new ownership--is in the midst of transforming from a company aimed at sending payloads to space, to instead provide a launch platform for hypersonic test flights. The company said the test flight lasted three hours and 22 minutes, and included evaluation of the Talon-A 1 (TA-1)'s propulsion system and environment while carrying live propelland, liquid oxygen. Stratolaunch is led by CEO Dr. Zachary Krevor. The company said it has contracts with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and the Navy's Multiservice Advanced Capability Test Bed (MACH-TB) program as a subcontractor to Leidos/Dynetics.