Stratolaunch, LLC celebrated the successful first powered flight of the TA-1 hypersonic aircraft. This maiden flight is a crucial achievement in the development process of this technology. aeronautical technology .
Tests passed for TA-1 hypersonic aircraft
During this test flight, several critical aspects were meticulously evaluated, including safe release of the TA-1 from its platform, efficient engine activation, acceleration capability, maintaining an altitude climb and accurate water landing. This set of objectives sought to verify the functionality and safety of the vehicle under real flight conditions.
In the words of Dr. Zachary Krevor, President and CEO of Stratolaunch, “This day represents a moment of great significance for the team behind this project. It highlights the commitment, technical skill and professionalism of the group as key factors behind the success of this flight.”
Collection of valuable data on test flights
Dr. Krevor also noted that, although specific details on the speed and altitude achieved by the TA-1 are restricted due to confidentiality agreements with customers, it is important to highlight that “the vehicle achieved supersonic speeds approaching Mach 5. In addition, the flight enabled the collection of a significant amount of valuable data for enterprise customers.”
The hypersonic aircraft approaching Mach 5. Source: Stratolaunch
The main objective of this flight was to minimize the risks associated with the first reusable flight of the TA-2, thus continuing the strategy of delivering the highest possible value to Stratolaunch’s customers. The team is already analyzing the data collected to plan the next steps towards the TA-2’s flight debut, scheduled for later this year.
In the meantime, Stratolaunch continues development of the TA-3, the second fully reusable Talon-A series vehicle. In addition, it is in the process of adapting an additional launch platform, the Spirit of Mojave, based on a modified Boeing 747-400.
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Source and photo: Stratolaunch
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