Latest news with #StratolaunchTalon-A
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Talon-A exceeds Mach 5 speed as US successfully tests reusable hypersonic vehicle
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways In a step that could bolster the U.S.'s hypersonic weapons push, the Pentagon on Monday confirmed the second successful test of a reusable hypersonic vehicle in March, just three months after the first trial. The test marked the country's first return to reusable hypersonic flight testing since the end of the manned X-15 program in 1968. The revelation comes just days after the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced it had successfully demonstrated an end-to-end hypersonic flight test using a sea-based cold-gas launch system from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on April 25. Milestone tests The Stratolaunch Talon-A hypersonic vehicle was launched mid-air from the Roc carrier aircraft, flew over the Pacific Ocean, and exceeded speeds of Mach 5 before safely landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base. These milestone tests were conducted under the Test Resource Management Center's (TRMC) Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) initiative. Stratolaunch, a California-based aerospace firm, developed the Talon-A test vehicle. Its first successful flight in December 2024 was not publicly disclosed until now. Roc—the world's largest aircraft with a twin fuselage—served as the launch platform for the Talon-A hypersonic vehicle. "Demonstrating the reuse of fully recoverable hypersonic test vehicles is an important milestone for MACH-TB. Lessons learned from this test campaign will help us reduce vehicle turnaround time from months down to weeks," said George Rumford, Director of the TRMC. Reusable design saves costs Unlike conventional single-use rockets, the reusable craft can be quickly redeployed at a lower cost, accelerating the development of next-generation weapons that fly at several times the speed of sound, reducing adversaries' response time, and bypassing traditional defenses. MACH-TB aims to accelerate the delivery of advanced hypersonic capabilities by enabling the Department of Defense (DoD), other federal agencies, industry, and academia to conduct affordable and rapid hypersonic experiments and test system components. NSWC Crane awarded the MACH-TB contract to Leidos on behalf of the TRMC. Leidos, as the prime contractor, then awarded a competitive contract to Stratolaunch to provide flight test services for the program. 'With the data collected from this second flight, we are able to apply lessons learned to enhance the strength and performance of the Talon-A vehicles. While the team needs to complete its data review of flight two, the first flight review confirmed the robustness of the Talon-A design while demonstrating the ability to meet the full range of performance capabilities desired by our customers,' said Dr. Zachary Krevor, President and CEO of Stratolaunch said in a release. 'We've now demonstrated hypersonic speed, added the complexity of a full runway landing with prompt payload recovery, and proven reusability. Both flights were great achievements for our country, our company, and our partners,' he added. The Talon-A test vehicle will help develop hypersonic weapons by allowing engineers to test engines, sensors, and communication systems aboard its reusable platform. The vehicle is powered by a Hadley liquid rocket engine built by startup Ursa Major. Hypersonic weapons fly in the upper atmosphere at speeds above Mach 5, or over 6,200 km (3,850 miles) per hour. U.S. defense giants like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and RTX are all advancing their hypersonic programs. Contractors are also investing in systems to detect and defend against these fast-moving threats. The test comes as the United States intensifies its efforts to build hypersonic capabilities, joining Russia and China in a growing global race to master the technology. Russia has reportedly used hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, while China has denied testing such weapons, despite U.S. military claims.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Defense contractor successfully launches, recovers hypersonic flight in test
May 5 (UPI) -- Stratolaunch successfully tested for the second time a fully recoverable uncrewed hypersonic vehicle for the Department of Defense in March, the private contractor and federal agency said Monday. Stratolaunch, based in the Mojave Desert in California and Nevada, first tested one in December. Reusable hypersonic flights are the first since the manned X-15 program was scrapped in 1968. The Stratolaunch Talon-A hypersonic vehicle launched from the twin-fuselage Roc carrier aircraft, flew over the Pacific Ocean and achieved speeds greater than Mach 5 before landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, DOD said in a news release. Mach 5 refers to five times the speed of sound, or 3,806 to 7,680 mph. Roc, named after the griffin-like creature, can carry as much as 500,000 pounds of payload, or more than 33 large elephants. It has a wingspan that stretches 385 feet, larger than any other plane. The new program is called Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed, or MACH-TB. "Demonstrating the reuse of fully recoverable hypersonic test vehicles is an important milestone for MACH-TB," George Rumford, director of the Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center, said. "Lessons learned from this test campaign will help us reduce vehicle turnaround time from months down to weeks." It will also help lower costs. "With the data collected from this second flight, we are able to apply lessons learned to enhance the strength and performance of the Talon-A vehicles," Stratolaunch CEO Zachary Krevor said. "We've now demonstrated hypersonic speed, added the complexity of a full runway landing with prompt payload recovery, and proven reusability. Both flights were great achievements for our country, our company, and our partners." MACH-TB provides the Defense Department, other federal agencies, industry and academia "the capability to affordably and rapidly conduct hypersonic experiments and test hypersonic system components," the release said. Stratolaunch has a contract to launch five MACH-TB flights, Defense News reported. Stratolaunch's mission, according to its website, is to "advance high-speed technology through innovative design, manufacturing, and operation of world-class aerospace vehicles." The company was founded in 2011. "I am in awe of what this team has achieved," Krevor said. "We've executed four incredible Talon-A flights, completed twenty-four Roc flights to date, flew two new supersonic and hypersonic airplanes in a single year, and we are firmly on the path to making hypersonic flight test services a reality." Stratolaunch has been making modifications to one of its launch platforms, a modified Boeing 747 jetliner called the Spirit of Mojave. Before the United States started the program, China and Russia made progress developing and fielding hypersonic systems of their own. In January, North Korea launched a hypersonic glide at first peak of 61 miles and a second peak of 26 miles, the state-run Korean Central News Agency reported. The range was estimated at 683 miles. "The hypersonic missile system will reliably contain any rivals in the Pacific region that can affect the security of our state," said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the launch via a monitoring system.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
US flies reusable hypersonic test vehicle for second time
By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. performed a second successful test of a reusable hypersonic test vehicle in March, the Pentagon said on Monday, enabling quicker development of U.S. hypersonic capabilities. Unlike single use rockets, the reusable vehicle can be put back to work quickly and more cheaply, helping the U.S. develop the next generation of arms that operate at several times the speed of sound, robbing adversaries of reaction time and evading traditional defenses. The first successful test of the Stratolaunch Talon-A reusable test vehicle in December 2024 was not publicized. Stratolaunch is an aerospace company based in Mojave, California. "In both tests, the Stratolaunch Talon-A hypersonic vehicle launched from the Roc carrier aircraft, flew over the Pacific Ocean and achieved speeds greater than Mach 5 before landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base," the Department of Defense said. Roc is the aircraft that Stratolaunch uses as its launch platform. It has a twin fuselage and is currently the world's largest aircraft. The Talon-A test vehicle will be used to carry hypersonic weapons systems during their development. Component makers could test engines, sensors and communications equipment aboard the reusable versions of the Talon-A. The Hadley liquid rocket engine that propelled the Talon-A was made by startup Ursa Major, the company said in a release. Hypersonic weapons travel in the upper atmosphere at more than five times the speed of sound, or about 6,200 km (3,853 miles) per hour. Arms makers like Lockheed Martin Corp, Northrop Grumman Corp and RTX Corp have all touted their hypersonic weapons programs. Defense contractors hope to capitalize on the shift to hypersonic weapons not only by building them but also by developing new systems to detect and defend against them.
Reuters
05-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US flies reusable hypersonic test vehicle for second time
WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. performed a second successful test of a reusable hypersonic test vehicle in March, the Pentagon said on Monday, enabling quicker development of U.S. hypersonic capabilities. Unlike single use rockets, the reusable vehicle can be put back to work quickly and more cheaply, helping the U.S. develop the next generation of arms that operate at several times the speed of sound, robbing adversaries of reaction time and evading traditional defenses. The first successful test of the Stratolaunch Talon-A reusable test vehicle in December 2024 was not publicized. Stratolaunch is an aerospace company based in Mojave, California. "In both tests, the Stratolaunch Talon-A hypersonic vehicle launched from the Roc carrier aircraft, flew over the Pacific Ocean and achieved speeds greater than Mach 5 before landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base," the Department of Defense said. Roc is the aircraft that Stratolaunch uses as its launch platform. It has a twin fuselage and is currently the world's largest aircraft. The Talon-A test vehicle will be used to carry hypersonic weapons systems during their development. Component makers could test engines, sensors and communications equipment aboard the reusable versions of the Talon-A. The Hadley liquid rocket engine that propelled the Talon-A was made by startup Ursa Major, the company said in a release. Hypersonic weapons travel in the upper atmosphere at more than five times the speed of sound, or about 6,200 km (3,853 miles) per hour. Arms makers like Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), opens new tab, Northrop Grumman Corp (NOC.N), opens new tab and RTX Corp (RTX.N), opens new tab have all touted their hypersonic weapons programs. Defense contractors hope to capitalize on the shift to hypersonic weapons not only by building them but also by developing new systems to detect and defend against them.
