The Talon-A separation test vehicle, TA-0, was used in Stratolaunch, LLC’s second captive carry mission, which has since been successfully completed. It was Roc, the company’s launch platform, ninth flight.
The flight, which lasted a record-breaking six hours and reached a maximum height of 22,500 feet, marked a significant advancement toward the company’s short-term objective of concluding separation testing with TA-0. The maiden flight outside of the nearby Mojave region and an assessment of the separation environment were the main test goals. The onboard data systems of Roc and TA-0 offer crucial data on the aerodynamic loads and times just before TA-0 is released, assisting in the safe separation of the vehicle from Roc. In preparation for the next separation test, the flight team also practised chase formation and communication sequencing.
The next steps on the test schedule will be decided after a study of the flight data. In the first half of 2023, Stratolaunch plans to conduct a separation test and launch TA-1 on its first hypersonic flight.
Dr. Zachary Krevor, Chief Executive Officer and President for Stratolaunch, said, “Our excellent team is continuing to make progress on our test timeline, and it is through their hard work that we get closer than ever to safe separation and our first hypersonic flight tests.”

Source: Prnewswire