Stratolaunch, LLC, a leading aerospace company, has announced a significant partnership with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to support the upcoming maiden flight test of their second reusable cutting-edge Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle, TA-3.
The Talon-A vehicles, when launched from “Roc,” the world’s largest flying aircraft, serve as rocket-powered, autonomous testbeds. They are capable of executing various hypersonic flight profiles while also carrying customized payload experiments onboard. This collaboration builds upon a prior partnership with the AFRL, which was established in late 2022 for the inaugural flight of TA-1, an expendable configuration within the Talon-A product line.
One of the key elements that sets Stratolaunch’s approach apart is reusability, which is a crucial factor for increasing the pace of hypersonic testing. By adopting a repeatable testing strategy, Stratolaunch is not only enabling rapid, iterative testing, but also accelerating access to the hypersonic environment. This approach significantly reduces development cost, schedules, and overall risk, thus driving innovation in hypersonic technology.
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