Vivace delivers fuel tank hardware for Talon-A test vehicles

Vivace International Corp. (San Antonio, Texas, U.S.), a manufacturer of specialty propulsion tanks for space and defense applications, is partnering with Stratolaunch (Mojave, Calif., U.S.) to support the design and construction of hardware components on the Talon-A test vehicles (TA-1 and TA-2), which provide autonomous, fully reusable testbeds used for the rapid development and in-flight testing of hypersonic and other aerospace systems.

In March 2025, Stratolaunch completed its second successful hypersonic flight and recovery with the TA-2 fully autonomous test vehicle. This recent accomplishment followed TA-2’s first hypersonic flight in December 2024 and demonstrated the first reusable vehicle in the Talon-A product line. In addition to TA-2, in March 2024, Stratolaunch completed its first powered flight of TA-1, achieving all major objectives, including the safe air-launch release of the TA-1 vehicle, engine ignition, acceleration, sustained climb in altitude and a controlled water landing. Vivace continues to partner with Stratolaunch on the manufacturing hardware in support of future flights.

Vivace supports the development of both metal and composite-overwrapped pressure vessels (COPV) for hypersonics and spaceflight. Its COPV pressurant tanks are rated to operate up to 10,000 psi (690 bar) and meet stringent leak before burst (LBB) and damage tolerance (DT) requirements, along with NASA Review Board approval.

Vivace designed and built Talon-A’s complex fuel tanks and its propulsion system pressurant tanks, which were carefully developed to meet Stratolaunch’s rigorous mission requirements and safety specifications for hypersonic flight. Vivace confirmed that it has delivered both metal and COPV options for the Talon-A program. Each lightweight tank is equipped with intricate internal management systems that control propellant flow through all stages of flight, ensuring reliability, optimal performance, full reusability and rapid flight turnaround. 

According to Dave Cochran, co-founder and CEO of Vivace, the Talon-A program is playing a crucial role in the advancement of the U.S.’ hypersonic testing. In a recent report on Stratolaunch’s work, Dr. Zachary Krevor, president and CEO of Stratolaunch told Aerospace Testing International, “With the data collected from this second flight, we can apply lessons learned to enhance the strength and performance of the Talon-A vehicles.”