Hypersonix
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Reusable orbital launch systems, scramjet engines, hypersonic vehicles |
| Website | hypersonix |
Hypersonix Launch Systems is an Australian aerospace startup focused on creating reusable, environmentally friendly orbital launch solutions utilizing scramjet technology. The firm concentrates on hypersonic vehicles and scramjet propulsion to offer sustainable and economical space access.
Details
Established in 2019, Hypersonix seeks to bring to market the scramjet innovations developed at the University of Queensland's Centre for Hypersonics through initiatives such as HIFiRE and Scramspace.
Test vehicle
To validate its technology, Hypersonix is constructing Delta-Velos, a reusable prototype crafted from composite materials. Measuring 5.5 meters in length with a wingspan of 2 meters, the vehicle aims to reach velocities up to Mach 12 across a distance of 2500 kilometers.
Engine
The company’s experimental scramjet engine, Spartan, runs on hydrogen fuel combined with atmospheric oxygen as the oxidizer. Designed to function between Mach 5 and Mach 12 without any moving components, Spartan is intended to power Hypersonix’s satellite deployment systems.
Launch system
In 2021, Hypersonix Launch Systems collaborated with the University of Southern Queensland to develop the reusable hypersonic UAV named Delta Velos.
The Delta-Velos Orbiter launch architecture consists of three stages:
- The initial rocket booster called Boomerang, which ascends from ground level to 20 km altitude, achieving speeds up to Mach 5 before returning to base after wing deployment;
- A winged scramjet-powered glider that climbs between 20 and 40 km altitude, accelerating from Mach 5 to Mach 8 before returning for landing;
- A final rocket stage responsible for delivering payloads from 40 km altitude into orbit;
all stages utilize green hydrogen as fuel. The winged second stage provides adaptable flight paths and latitude flexibility. The system is designed to carry payloads up to 50 kg into LEO SSO, catering primarily to the microsatellite segment.
In March 2023, Hypersonix was chosen by the United States Department of Defense under the Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities (HyCAT) initiative to create a high-velocity aircraft for hypersonic technology experimentation.