HyperSciences, a leader in advanced hypersonic propulsion and projectile technologies, has been awarded a $1.7M Phase 2 SBIR (Small Business Industry Research) contract with the U.S. Department of Defense as a follow-on to its 2018-2019 NASA SBIR Phase 1 contract. This new contract further develops the company’s revolutionary hypersonic launch system for aerospace applications. This award marks a critical milestone in the company’s growth beyond industrial applications into national defense and space launch, reinforcing its role in next-generation hypersonic capabilities.
Originally commercialized for high-speed drilling in industrial mining and tunneling utilizing high speed impact, HyperSciences’ proprietary ram accelerator technology was recognized by NASA in 2018 for its potential to scale up the technology for repetitive suborbital hypersonic testing and hypersonic boosted orbital payload launches with a Phase 1 SBIR award titled: “Low Cost Nano and Micro Satellite Launch Stage and Automated Hypersonic Test Platform.”
The ability to launch payloads without a first-stage rocket boost is expected to provide a cost-effective, reusable alternative to traditional rocket launch methods, eliminating expensive, risky, toxic propellants and enabling rapid, repeatable launches. These capabilities make it particularly well-suited for applications requiring high launch cadence and cost efficiency.
As the US and its allies seek to enhance hypersonic capabilities, HyperSciences created General Hypersonics, Inc. as an initially wholly owned subsidiary in 2024 to focus on national security and space applications. HyperSciences, the parent company, due to its previous NASA Phase 1 and readily available equipment and staff, is responsible for executing this Phase 2 sub-scale capability demonstrator. The government appreciates the dual-use that research and development of a high-speed, low-cost commercial-industrial approach brings to government use cases. After the delivery of Phase 2 results, HyperSciences plans for future government contracts to occur within subsidiary, General Hypersonics, Inc.
This initiative aligns with the US and its armed forces’ national security strategies, which designate hypersonics as critical to a multi-domain defense system. Despite billions of dollars spent in recent U.S. investments in hypersonic technology, current conventional rocket-based solutions remain costly and complex, with gaps in needed capabilities. HyperSciences’ low-cost, reusable launch platform provides a scalable alternative designed for missile defense testing, intelligence and surveillance operations, and next-generation capabilities.
“This testing and development contract further validates our cutting-edge technology and positions us at the forefront of hypersonic innovation,” said Mark Russell, CEO and Founder of HyperSciences and General Hypersonics. “Our system offers a revolutionary approach to hypersonic launch—one that is not only low-cost and reusable but also adaptable for a variety of missions across industrial, defense, and space sectors. By drastically reducing launch costs and infrastructure requirements, we are enabling the U.S. to deploy hypersonic systems from land or sea at a fraction of today’s costs.”
HyperSciences’ technology directly supports the U.S. hypersonic strategic approach, prioritizing cost-effective and rapid hypersonic development. The platform technology is also designed to enable high-cadence, low-cost space access, serving both government and commercial partners. By bridging the gap between hypersonic defense and responsive space launch, HyperSciences and General Hypersonics are redefining the future of national security and global launch capabilities.
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