News archive: Stratolaunch Systems Inc. | Airframer

21 July

ReleaseStratolaunch achieves major milestone: 10+ successful hypersonic flights with reusable, fully autonomous Talon-A aircraft

21 May

ReleaseStratolaunch conducts hypersonic test flight with Missile Defense Agency

16 April

ReleaseUrsa Major achieves 10 successful Hadley engine flights, demonstrating reusable hypersonic capability

19 February

ReleaseStratolaunch announces $90.8M contract award under MACH-TB 2.0 Task 3 for air-launched capability test vehicles

20 January

ReleaseStratolaunch raises significant capital to further accelerate hypersonic capability at scale

18 November

ReleaseUrsa Major raises $100 million to scale hypersonics, solid rocket motors and space mobility

16 June

ReleaseUrsa Major awarded $32.9M contract to deliver 16 upgraded Hadley engines for Stratolaunch hypersonic test program

29 May

Vivace delivers tank systems for Stratolaunch Talon-A flights

Vivace-built propulsion hardware supported both TA-1 and TA-2 during successful powered and hypersonic tests in the past year.

8 May

Stratolaunch's Talon-A2 completes its first autonomous landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Stratolaunch makes second hypersonic flight and successful recovery

The TA-2 vehicle exceeded Mach 5 again in March 2025, confirming reusability and advancing the goals of the MACH-TB programme.

5 May

ReleaseUrsa Major's Hadley engine achieves sustained hypersonic speeds

6 January

ReleaseKratos receives $1.45B MACH-TB 2.0 contract award

29 May

ReleaseDraper excels as GNC flight software supplier in Stratolaunch's historic Talon A-1 flight

14 March

This first flight represents a major milestone in the development of the US's first privately funded, reusable hypersonic test capability.

Stratolaunch achieves first powered flight of TA-1 test vehicle

Primary objectives for the flight test included accomplishing safe air-launch release of the TA-1 vehicle, engine ignition, acceleration, sustained climb in altitude, and a controlled water landing.

9 March

ReleaseUrsa Major Hadley engine flies for the first time

24 February

ReleaseStratolaunch completes 2nd captive carry flight with TA-1 test vehicle

7 December

Stratolaunch's Roc launch platform and Talon-A 1 (TA-1) hypersonic testbed take off for their first integrated captive carry flight from Mojave Air and Space Port on Dec. 3, 2023.

Stratolaunch completes captive carry flight with TA-1 test vehicle

While the company had conducted several successful ground tests fueling and igniting the system, it needed to evaluate how the system performs in the flight environment prior to release.

13 May

ReleaseStratolaunch successfully completes separation test of Talon-A vehicle

1 April

ReleaseStratolaunch completes third captive carry flight with Talon-A vehicle

23 January

ReleaseStratolaunch creates Advanced Program Office at Discovery Park District and collaborates with Purdue University on hypersonic design and test

19 January

The flight team practiced chase formation and communication sequencing for the upcoming separation test.

Hypersonic test vehicle TA-0 hitches second ride

The ongoing flight test program continues on target towards separation test and the first hypersonic flight of TA-1 within the first half of 2023.

29 November

ReleaseStratolaunch partners with Dynetics for Navy MACH-TB hypersonic testbed

14 November

ReleaseStratolaunch announces contract with U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory

3 November

Stratolaunch's Roc aircraft takes off from Mojave Air and Space Port on October 28, 2022 during its first captive carry flight with the Talon-A separation test vehicle, TA-0. This was the eighth flight of the Roc aircraft.

Hypersonic Talon-A carries Roc on first flight

Stratolaunch's Roc aircraft took off from Mojave Air and Space Port on October 28 during its first captive carry flight with the Talon-A separation test vehicle, TA-0. This was the eighth flight of the Roc aircraft.

4 October

ReleaseStratolaunch Talon-A to integrate with SkyRange Hypersonic Program

26 May

ReleaseStratolaunch debuts Talon-A separation test vehicle

12 May

Draper designed, developed and delivered the guidance, navigation and control (GNC) flight software for the Stratolaunch reusable hypersonic vehicle, Talon-A.

Draper delivers GNC flight software for Talon-A hypersonic vehicle

GNC software commissioned from Draper in 2020 has now been installed on the Talon-A. Draper has long experience, having worked on the Apollo program, Space Shuttle missions and the International Space Station.

4 May

ReleaseStratolaunch carrier aircraft completes fifth flight with new pylon

17 March

ReleaseStratolaunch opens office in Washington D.C. metro area

3 March

Landing gear extension was the main aim of flight four.

Stratolaunch carrier nears operational status after gear tests

Stratolaunch's Roc carrier aircraft has completed its fourth flight test. The primary mission objective was to fully retract and extend the aircraft's landing gear for the first time.

8 February

ReleaseMarotta Controls expands hypersonic device portfolio with new Dual Pressure Controller for rocket engines

25 January

ReleaseStratolaunch announces research contract with U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory

16 January

ReleaseStratolaunch Roc carrier aircraft completes third flight test

29 September

Talon-A is a reusable hypersonic vehicle for hypersonic research, experiments, and enabling operational missions.

Hypersonic Talon-A completes critical design review

Launched from Stratolaunch's Roc carrier aircraft, the Talon-A is a rocket-propelled, autonomous, reusable testbed carrying customisable payloads at speeds over Mach 5.

6 May

Stratolaunch Talon-A separation article.

Stratolaunch carrier aircraft completes second flight

Talon-A is a fully reusable, autonomous, liquid rocket-powered Mach 6-class vehicle which can provide over 60 seconds of hypersonic flight test conditions. It needs a monster carrier aircraft to get it airborne.

7 January

Stratolaunch picks composite fuel probe for hypersonic Talon-A

The Talon-A is designed to fly at speeds up to Mach 6, and will now feature a composite fuel probe from LMS and a signal conditioner unit that will communicate fuel quantity to the avionics over an ARINC 429 bus.

15 October

ReleaseDraper signs agreement to provide GN&C for Stratolaunch's hypersonic vehicle

11 October

ReleaseCalspan and Stratolaunch join forces on testing of Talon-A hypersonic testbed

20 May

ReleaseLMS tapped by Stratolaunch for improved primary fuel gauging system

14 October

ReleaseStratolaunch transitions ownership

13 April

The Airframer Bulletin