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Advanced / Transformational Technology

Stratolaunch, Varda Space Selected As Launch Providers For Hypersonic Test Bed

By Cal Biesecker

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026

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Stratolaunch, Varda Space Selected As Launch Providers For Hypersonic Test Bed

Pictured is a Stratolaunch photo of the Roc aircraft and Talon-A 0 hypersonic test bed during a separation test on May 13, 2023.

The Defense Department and one of its technology accelerators have picked Stratolaunch and Varda Space Industries to provide reusable and recoverable launch services for a test bed aimed at increasing the cadence of flight-tests for hypersonic technologies. The Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 program Task Area 3 launch providers will help DoD meet its goal of 50 hypersonic flight tests annually, the DoD Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) and National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL) said on Thursday.…

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