Hypersonic technology is taking center stage in aerospace innovation, with speeds reaching Mach 5 – approximately 3,800 mph – enabling theoretical travel times like New York to Los Angeles in just 30 minutes. NASA has embraced this frontier, focusing on developing point-to-point and space-access hypersonic vehicles, with ambitions for reusable craft featuring efficient engines for global flight by 2050.
The journey to hypersonic flight began in 1949 when a U.S. WAC Corporal sounding rocket became the first human-made object to achieve such speeds, though it didn’t survive re-entry. A significant milestone followed in 1961 when Air Force Major Robert White piloted the X-15 research aircraft beyond Mach 4, 5, and 6, marking the first winged aircraft to reach such velocities.
Recent developments include Chinese scientists’ reported test flight of an unconventional hypersonic aircraft featuring a rounded fuselage and cape-shaped wings, diverging from typical sleek designs. The technology also has military applications, with Russia reportedly deploying operational hypersonic weapons in Ukraine, including a missile strike on Kyiv in January 2023.
Rocket Lab USA recently conducted a successful suborbital mission testing hypersonic technology for the U.S. Defense Department. The November launch demonstrated new capabilities for testing hypersonic components, with George Rumford, director of the Defense Department’s Test Resource Management Center, emphasizing how commercial launch services enable cost-effective and frequent testing to accelerate development.
The mission, part of the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) project, showcased Rocket Lab’s ability to design and integrate experimental hypersonic instrumentation rapidly. Brian Rogers, the company’s vice president of global launch services, highlighted the critical nature of hypersonic testing for national interests.
Founded by New Zealander Peter Beck in 2006, Rocket Lab has
established itself as a key player in space launches, deploying over 200 payloads from facilities in the U.S. and New Zealand since 2017. The company’s stock performance has been remarkable, showing a 338% increase year-to-date and a 426% rise compared to last year.
Veteran trader Stephen Guilfoyle notes that while the U.S. currently lags behind China and Russia in hypersonic weapon development, Rocket Lab received a $23.9 million grant under the CHIPs Act to enhance space-grade solar cell production for spacecraft and satellites. Despite recent stock volatility, with shares retreating 17.3% from their peak of $28.10 to $23.24, Guilfoyle maintains a positive outlook with a target price of $33.
The company’s strong balance sheet and strategic positioning in the hypersonic testing market have attracted attention from investors and analysts. Rocket Lab’s role in advancing U.S. hypersonic capabilities, combined with its commercial space launch services, positions it as a significant player in both civilian and military aerospace sectors.
The focus on hypersonic technology represents a crucial development in both commercial aviation and defense capabilities. As NASA continues its research toward reusable hypersonic vehicles, and companies like Rocket Lab advance testing capabilities, the future of
ultra-high-speed travel and defense systems appears increasingly achievable, though significant technical challenges remain.