On March 9, 2024, the Stratolaunch company successfully performed the first powered flight of its Talon vehicle, reaching supersonic speeds during the unmanned test. The Talon-A (TA-1) took off attached to the aircraft, named Scaled Composites Model 351 (or Roc) at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California at 10:17 am local time. After flying westward to a position in the Pacific off the central coast of California, TA-1 was released, and then the Roc vehicle returned to base more than 4 hours after takeoff.
ICYMI: We completed Talon-A1’s first powered flight on Saturday March 9, breaking dawn on a new era in hypersonic flight test capability for the U.S. Read more: Stratolaunch | Stratolaunch Celebrates First Powered Flight of TA-1… pic.twitter.com/FDs7gAgZ1Z
— Stratolaunch (@Stratolaunch) March 11, 2024
Aaron Cassebeer, senior vice president, explained that TA-1 completed its primary test objectives. Indeed the main goal of the flight test was not only a secure air-launch release of the TA-1 vehicle with a successful engine ignition but also achieving a proper acceleration path, maintaining a continuous climb in altitude, and executing a controlled landing on water.
The company executives explained at a press conference that they could not temporarily disclose sensitive data including TA-1’s maximum speed or altitude during its flight due to proprietary agreements with unspecified customers.
“Today was a great day for the Stratolaunch team. I am extremely proud of their perseverance to reach this point. The successful outcome of the test is a direct result of the team’s technical prowess and professionalism”.
— Explained Dr. Zachary Krevor, President and CEO of Stratolaunch
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Talon A
Talon-A is more than just a new tech in the new frontier of ultra-fast vehicles; it’s an autonomous, reusable testbed designed to revolutionize supersonic flight. One of the most important features is the capability to fly at high Mach speeds across a range of altitudes and different flight profiles. This means reliable access to the real hypersonic environment, which is critical in advancing aerospace technologies.
Moreover, the Talon-A vehicle is versatile, as it is possible to customize payload volumes and instrumentation, tailoring each mission to specific needs and objectives.
While conducting tests on TA-1, the Company is advancing the manufacture of TA-3, the second fully reusable vehicle within the Talon-A product line. Additionally, the company has initiated the revision and variation process on its supplementary launch platform named the Spirit of Mojave, a customized Boeing 747 – 400.
In the meantime, the company has also entered into agreements with Leidos, a contractor for the United States Navy, for the program known as MACH-TB (Multiservice Advanced Capability Test Bed).
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The Company
More than a decade ago, Stratolaunch was founded by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, with the initial goal of providing air launch services. However, after Allen’s passing in 2018, the company slightly changed direction. It was later sold to a private equity firm, Cerebus, in 2020.
The company announced a new strategy focused on the development of hypersonic vehicles to be launched by Roc, whose current model is called Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch, powered by 6 Pratt & Whitney PW4056 turbofan, with 56,750 lbs (252.4 kN) thrust each.
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