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The Airframer Bulletin

Airframer · Stratolaunch Talon-A · Stratolaunch Systems Inc.
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Every Bulletin story and press release covering Airframer · Stratolaunch Talon-A · Stratolaunch Systems Inc., newest first.

20 items

2026
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

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

2025
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.

2024
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

2023
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

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.

2022
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

4 May

ReleaseStratolaunch carrier aircraft completes fifth flight with new pylon

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.

2021
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.