Stratolaunch ramps hypersonic testing with ex-Virgin Orbit Boeing 747
May 21, 2026
Stratolaunch has confirmed a new hypersonic test mission conducted for the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The mission used the former Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 as a launch platform.
The Boeing 747, now named Spirit of Mojave, air-launched the Talon-A3 hypersonic vehicle under MDA’s Flight Test Experiment Other-04 (FEX-04).
Undertaken on 6 March, Stratolaunch only disclosed details of the mission on 21 May. Despite the delayed announcement, it provides another indication that the company is transitioning from experimental demonstrations toward sustained reusable hypersonic flight operations.
Stratolaunch accelerates hypersonic tests with Boeing 747 and Roc
The Spirit of Mojave operates alongside Stratolaunch’s enormous twin-fuselage Roc aircraft, as part of the company’s growing fleet of reusable hypersonic test infrastructure.
Reporting from Aviation Week suggests Stratolaunch has already conducted multiple reusable Talon missions, including back-to-back launches from both of the two platforms within 14 days of each other in February this year.
The increased cadence aligns with Stratolaunch’s January announcement that new investment would be used to expand vehicle production, add carrier aircraft and accelerate reusable hypersonic testing operations.
“Hypersonic testing requires precision, speed and reliable access to flight,” said Stratolaunch President and CEO Dr Zachary Krevor. “Each mission expands the nation’s ability to test and advance critical technologies, and we are proud to support our government partners as they accelerate innovation in high-speed flight.”
The Talon-A series is designed as a reusable hypersonic test vehicle capable of carrying payloads and sensors at speeds above Mach 5. Rather than serving as a weapon itself, the platform is intended to support the testing of materials, communications systems, sensors and missile defence technologies in extreme high-speed flight environments.
Although Stratolaunch did not disclose the speed, duration or recovery details of the latest Talon-A3 mission, previous Talon flights have reportedly exceeded Mach 5 and successfully recovered the reusable vehicle following flight.
Ex-Virgin Orbit Boeing 747 takes on a new role for Stratolaunch
The Boeing 747 used in this test has a colourful history. Initially delivered to Virgin Atlantic in 2001 as G-VWOW, it started life carrying passengers, but wound up carrying far more interesting things.
In 2015, it took on registration N744VG when ownership transferred to Virgin Galactic (although it retained its rather apt name of Cosmic Girl). The company attempted to make a success of air-launched space services,
The 747 carried LauncherOne, an air-launched rocket capable of delivering smallsats into orbit, under its wing. The idea was to make a cheaper, more sustainable launch system by lofting the rocket into thinner, less resistant air, eliminating the most fuel-intensive part of launches.
Cosmic Girl undertook six flights in all. Four were successful, while two failed. After the final failure in January 2023 and with no further financing, the company laid off all staff and suspended operations.
The Boeing 747 was transferred to Stratolaunch in April 2024. Now, with tail number N949SL and renamed Spirit of Mojave, she continues to provide launch capabilities, but this time for hypersonic vehicles.
Featured image: Stratolaunch
