Hypersonic test rockets
Solid-fuel rockets that carry test articles to Mach 5 and above, and to 100 km and above, for hypersonic and defense research.
Why it matters
Hypersonic research needs real flight data, and each test is costly. Cheaper test rockets that can launch from sea or land make more flights possible.
How the technology works
Evolution builds solid rocket motors in fast-burn and extended-burn versions and stacks them into test vehicles. Its 2024 sea launch used a sub-scale vehicle from an offshore platform, which avoids crowded land test ranges.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction