Video Transcript
A developer of advanced aerospace and weapons systems has conducted a second test of a new hypersonic vehicle, company officials announced.
Stratolaunch’s latest “captive carry” flight of the TA-1 — the first powered hypersonic vehicle under its Talon-A program — took off in late February from the Southern California desert. The company’s “Roc” launch platform carried a Talon-A equipped with live propellant for a flight time of nearly 4.5 hours.
Stratolaunch officials said the second test aimed to evaluate the propulsion system and flight environment with live propellant, as well as verify its telemetry systems, ensuring that they will allow for powered flight when the payload is eventually released.
Zachary Krevor, the company’s chief executive, said the initial results of the Feb. 24 flight test appeared positive for the health and performance of each vehicle. Officials will determine their next steps following a “comprehensive review” of test data.
Stratolaunch intends for the next generations of the Talon-A program, the TA-2 and TA-3, to be fully reusable hypersonic vehicles capable of traveling at more than five times the speed of sound to evade conventional weapons defense systems. The company is scheduled to begin flights of the TA-2 later this year.
