Stratolaunch's Talon-A2 Prototype Goes Hypersonic After Dropping From World's Largest Airplane (space.com) 11
Stratolaunch successfully flew its uncrewed Talon-A2 prototype to hypersonic speeds twice -- once in December and again in March. "We've now demonstrated hypersonic speed, added the complexity of a full runway landing with prompt payload recovery and proven reusability," Stratolaunch President and CEO Zachary Krevor said in a statement on Monday. "Both flights were great achievements for our country, our company and our partners." Space.com reports: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen established Stratolaunch in 2011, with the goal of air-launching satellites from a giant carrier plane called Roc, which has a wingspan of 385 feet (117 meters). That vision changed after Allen's 2018 death, however; the company is now using Roc as a platform to test hypersonic technology.
Hypersonic vehicles are highly maneuverable craft capable of flying at least five times the speed of sound. Their combination of speed and agility make them much more difficult to track and intercept than traditional ballistic missiles. The United States, China and other countries view hypersonic tech as vital for national security, and are therefore developing and testing such gear at an ever-increasing pace. Stratolaunch, Roc and the winged, rocket-powered Talon-2A are part of this evolving picture, as the two newly announced test flights show. They were both conducted for the U.S. military's Test Resource Management Center Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program, under a partnership with the Virginia-based company Leidos.
On both occasions, Roc lifted off from California and dropped Talon-2A over the Pacific Ocean. The hypersonic vehicle then powered its way to a landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, on California's Central Coast. "These flights were a huge success for our program and for the nation," Scott Wilson, MACH-TB program manager, said in the same statement. "The data collected from the experiments flown on the initial Talon-A flight has now been analyzed and the results are extremely positive," he added. "The opportunity for technology testing at a high rate is highly valuable as we push the pace of hypersonic testing. The MACH-TB program is pleased with the multiple flight successes while looking forward to future flight tests with Stratolaunch."
Hypersonic vehicles are highly maneuverable craft capable of flying at least five times the speed of sound. Their combination of speed and agility make them much more difficult to track and intercept than traditional ballistic missiles. The United States, China and other countries view hypersonic tech as vital for national security, and are therefore developing and testing such gear at an ever-increasing pace. Stratolaunch, Roc and the winged, rocket-powered Talon-2A are part of this evolving picture, as the two newly announced test flights show. They were both conducted for the U.S. military's Test Resource Management Center Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program, under a partnership with the Virginia-based company Leidos.
On both occasions, Roc lifted off from California and dropped Talon-2A over the Pacific Ocean. The hypersonic vehicle then powered its way to a landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, on California's Central Coast. "These flights were a huge success for our program and for the nation," Scott Wilson, MACH-TB program manager, said in the same statement. "The data collected from the experiments flown on the initial Talon-A flight has now been analyzed and the results are extremely positive," he added. "The opportunity for technology testing at a high rate is highly valuable as we push the pace of hypersonic testing. The MACH-TB program is pleased with the multiple flight successes while looking forward to future flight tests with Stratolaunch."
Href missing in first attempted link (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Href missing in first attempted link (Score:5, Funny)
Another hypersonic vehicle this weekend (Score:2)
Russia will have another hypersonic vehicle they will be tracking this weekend, traveling at Mach 26.
The Kosmos 482 Descent Craft will be deorbiting sometime this weekend, entering the atmosphere and slowing to about 150 mph as it crashes to the ground. Where will it hit? That is the big debate. Almost everyone reading this will have a slight chance of being in the decent area, unless you live in the arctic or antarctic. https://www.livescience.com/sp... [livescience.com]
Not the same as a low-altitude hypersonic vehicle
Re: (Score:1)
Unpowered scrap metal randomly careening to Earth is not what is meant by "hypersonic vehicle." Neither is some ballistic pipe bomb the Germans made.
Air breathing, non-ballistic, maneuvering flight above 5x the speed of sound. That is hypersonic vehicle, as understood by weapons designers.
Even this Talon-A2 doesn't actually qualify.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Development is about to come to a screeching halt as China has started to block sales of materials and components to US weapons companies. Even dual-use materials are getting blocked.
The most expensive military in the history of our planet is now so far behind the curve of military tech that it's doubtful it can catch up, especially since it now relies on foreign suppliers for almost everything. The true climax of the 'Reagan Revolution'.
BeauHD strikes out again. (Score:3)
For anyone who wants to read the actual article... (Score:5, Informative)
Dynetics? Seriously? (Score:2)