MOJAVE, Calif., Oct. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratolaunch, LLC is pleased to announce they have been added to the Test Resource Management Center's (TRMC) Integration Innovation Inc. (i3) team to demonstrate the SkyRange airborne test assets capability by tracking the first Talon-A hypersonic flight.The SkyRange program is developing, operating, and integrating advanced sensors and capabilities for a fleet of air-vehicle systems that will support hypersonic test and evaluation. The program's test architecture includes both MQ-9 Reapers and RQ-4 Global Hawks allowing for a broad range of data capture on a variety of mission scenarios that will enable decision-making for high-speed system testing and fielding. This unique capability will increase national high-speed systems flight test capabilities and frequency, and ultimately enable leap-ahead technologies for our nation's warfighter.Stratolaunch's hypersonic flight test service is centered around its Talon-A, a reusable autonomous hypersonic testbed vehicle which provides a flexible test architecture for hypersonic flights and experimentation. During the Talon-A's maiden hypersonic flight, it will operate as a high-speed vehicle, which TRMC SkyRange assets will acquire, track, and otherwise support to validate developmental instrumentation payloads."We're excited for the opportunity to provide the SkyRange program an operational application with our first Talon-A hypersonic flight," said Dr. Zachary Krevor, President and Chief Executive Officer for Stratolaunch. "This mutually beneficial partnership will increase the pace and reduce cost of testing, which is critical to hypersonic system technology development."
The source close to the project told TheAviationist that the aircraft may be ready for flight in, “Two to three weeks”.
Draft Environmental AssessmentTest and Operation of the Stratolaunch Talon-A Hypersonic Research Testbed VehicleVandenberg Space Force Base, California
Watch LIVE: Stratolaunch's "Roc" aircraft is conducting the first captive carry test of the Talon-A hypersonic testbed! #StratolaunchPartner
Chase Plane in the air. Check out the scale!youtu.be/HmrgfT7P8cw #StratolaunchPartner
Take Off! Stratolaunch's "Roc" aircraft with the first captive carry test of the Talon-A hypersonic testbed! #StratolaunchPartnerLIVE: youtube.com/watch?v=HmrgfT…
Roc is airborne over the Mojave Desert! Today’s flight will focus on measuring the aerodynamic loads on the Talon-A vehicle while mated to Roc. Follow along with today’s flight: buff.ly/3fgLFQw #LetsRoc
I hate to say that, but such a colossal plane for such tiny vehicle ! I do hope future Talons will grow much larger...
Stratolaunch's "Roc" aircraft coming to the end of its first captive carry test of the Talon-A hypersonic testbed!Now into low approaches ahead of landing #StratolaunchPartnerLIVE: youtube.com/watch?v=HmrgfT…
Takeoff of the world's largest aircraft by wingspan, @Stratolaunch's Roc - with a Talon hypersonic aircraft under wing for the first time. @NASASpaceflight
That was super cool low approach.
First Talon-A captive carry test complete.Stratolaunch's "Roc" aircraft has landed!#StratolaunchPartnerLIVE: youtube.com/watch?v=HmrgfT…
Stratolaunch announces the successful completion of its first captive carry flight with the Talon-A separation test vehicle, TA-0, integrated with Roc's center wing pylon. The eighth flight test of Roc, the world's largest flying aircraft, lasted 5 hours and 6 minutes over the Mojave Desert and reached an altitude of 23,000 feet (7000 meters).This flight focused on measuring the aerodynamic loads on the Talon-A vehicle while mated to Roc. The loads captured in flight will validate aerodynamic predictions to ensure the release mechanism will function as designed."We have conducted a variety of ground tests in anticipation of this first captive carry flight, and with each successful test milestone achieved we have built confidence that the hardware will perform exactly as it was designed. It's exhilarating to see the team's hard work come to life and see the vehicles fly as an integrated system," said Dr. Zachary Krevor, Stratolaunch Chief Executive Officer and President.The company will complete a series of captive carry flights in the coming months, culminating in a separation test of the TA-0 vehicle out over the Pacific Ocean in late 2022.Parallel to flight test activity, the company is progressing on system tests of its first hypersonic flight test vehicle, TA-1 and on the fabrication of the first and second fully reusable hypersonic vehicles, TA-2 and TA-3. The company anticipates delivering hypersonic flight services to government and commercial customers in 2023."Testing and production are accelerating as we push forward to meet our commitment of providing hypersonic flight test service to our customers next year. Our team will continue accomplishing more complex test milestones as we progress to our first hypersonic flight," Dr. Krevor said.
