Talon-A2 hypersonic vehicle, exploring reusable hypersonic platforms, was recovered for the second time in its air-launch test from Stratolaunch’s Model 351.
Stratolaunch providing the exotic service of high-altitude launch for space vehicles has entered the hypersonics field in a partnership with the US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). In a recent test with AFRL’s Talon-A2 hypersonic aircraft demonstrator, the test vehicle was launched by the Model 351 “Roc” heavy carrier/launcher at high altitude and recovered for the second time using landing gear. Stratolaunch stated that Talon-A2 reached a speed above Mach 5.
Talon-A2 is a recoverable test vehicle powered by Ursa Major’s Hadley liquid-fuel rocket engine. The throttleable rocket engine using kerosene and liquid oxygen can provide a thrust force of up to 22 kN.
Rocket engines have gained popularity in hypersonic vehicle development due to the difficulties of scramjets when it comes to materials, high-speed flow complexities for design, and the high starting speed requirements. Whereas scramjets have prerequisites resulting in significant tradeoffs, the newer types of liquid fuel rocket engines can be started at any given moment and retain the throttling feature important for sustained flight. This advantage has also led to their use on some of the new hypersonic weapon designs.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
