Please Consider Disabling Your Ad BlockerĬlick Here To Learn How Stratolaunch in flight over the Mojave Air and Space Port, May 4, 2022. In addition to testing the carrier aircraft, the team continues to make progress on system integration and functional testing of two Talon-A test vehicles, TA-0 and TA-1 It is through their dedication that we continue to make steady progress toward achieving our next milestones of Talon-A flight tests later this year.” “The pylon is a crucial component of our combined launch system, and I am proud of the team’s timely and quality integration work that occurred since our last test flight. Zachary Krevor, Stratolaunch chief executive officer and president said, “Today’s successful flight validates important hardware improvements to the carrier aircraft. Continued validation of landing gear operations including door functionality, and alternate gear extension.Validation of the aircraft’s general performance and handling characteristics, with the addition of the recently installed pylon hardware.

Initial results from the flight test objectives include: The Talon-A can be fitted out with different payloads and is fully reusable, designed to enable swift, repeatable testing of hypersonic flight technologies for all manner of applications. This capability enables routine access to the hypersonic flight environment, which is critical for scientific research, technological development, and component demonstration. Launched from the Roc carrier aircraft, Talon-A vehicles are rocket-powered, autonomous, reusable test-beds carrying customizable payloads at speeds above Mach 5. This will expedite the launch preparation and moderate the need for extra ground support personnel. The pylon also has incorporated a winch system to lift the Talon-A onto the pylon from the ground. (Photograph by Jim Mumaw)Īccording to a press release by Stratolaunch, the pylon weighs approximately 8,000 pounds and occupies 14-feet of Roc’s 95-foot center wingspan, allowing for adequate space between the aircraft’s dual fuselages for safe vehicle release and launch. Stratolaunch in flight over the Mojave Air and Space Port, May 4, 2022. The hardware is comprised of a mini-wing and adapter that is constructed with aluminum and carbon fiber skins. The fifth flight debuted a new pylon on the aircraft’s center wing that will be used to carry and release Talon-A hypersonic vehicles. The aircraft flew for 4 hours and 58 minutes over the Mojave Desert and reached an altitude of 22,500 feet. On the calm morning of May 4, also known as Star Wars Day, Stratolaunch (Roc), the world’s largest aircraft by wingspan, lifted gracefully from Runway 30 at the Mojave Air and Space Port.

Critical ops testflight