Hypersonix Sets Launch Window for Maiden “Cassowary Vex” Hypersonic Mission

Australian aerospace manufacturer Hypersonix Launch Systems has officially announced the launch window for the first flight of its DART AE (Additive Engineering) hypersonic vehicle. According to the company, the mission, codenamed “Cassowary Vex”, is scheduled to launch no earlier than late February 2026 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island, Virginia.

This upcoming flight marks a significant milestone in the development of reusable hypersonic technologies. The mission will utilize a Rocket Lab HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) vehicle to boost the DART AE to its initial release speed. The primary objective is to validate the performance of the SPARTAN scramjet engine, a hydrogen-fueled propulsion system that is entirely 3D-printed.

The mission is being conducted in partnership with the United States Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), highlighting the deepening defense technology collaboration between the U.S. and Australia under the HyCAT (Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities) program.

Mission Profile: “Cassowary Vex”

The mission profile, detailed in recent industry reports, involves a complex sequence of events designed to test the limits of autonomous hypersonic flight. The launch vehicle, Rocket Lab’s HASTE, will lift the 3.5-meter DART AE to the upper atmosphere. Once the booster accelerates the payload to approximately Mach 5, the DART AE will separate and ignite its own engine.

According to mission specifications released by Hypersonix, the vehicle will then accelerate under its own power to a target speed of Mach 7 (approximately 8,600 km/h). The flight aims to demonstrate non-ballistic, reusable flight characteristics, distinguishing it from traditional missile tests.

Launch Logistics

The launch is set to take place at Launch Complex 2 at MARS. While the window opens in late February, Hypersonix has stated that the exact timing will be confirmed 24 hours prior to liftoff. The mission name, “Cassowary Vex,” references the flightless Australian bird, while the launch service itself has been humorously dubbed “That’s Not A Knife,” a cultural nod to the film Crocodile Dundee.

Technology Spotlight: The SPARTAN Scramjet

The core technology under review during this mission is the SPARTAN scramjet engine. Unlike many competitors that utilize kerosene-based fuels, the SPARTAN engine runs on green hydrogen. Hypersonix claims this fuel choice offers a higher specific impulse, resulting in greater efficiency and a clean burn that produces only water vapor.

The “AE” in the vehicle’s name stands for Additive Engineering. The entire airframe and engine are constructed using high-temperature alloys, such as Inconel, capable of withstanding temperatures exceeding 1,000°C. The engine features a fixed-geometry design with no moving parts, a feature intended to increase reliability while reducing manufacturing costs.

In a statement regarding the engineering effort, Hypersonix CEO Matt Hill emphasized the collaborative nature of the project:

“This flight reflects years of engineering work and the confidence of our partners at DIU, NASA, and Rocket Lab. It brings us a meaningful step closer to operational hypersonic systems that are reusable, sustainable, and strategically relevant for Australia and for our allies.”

Strategic Context and Market Landscape

The “Cassowary Vex” mission arrives during a period of intense activity within the hypersonic sector. The flight is part of the DIU’s HyCAT program, which selected Hypersonix to provide a testbed capable of high-cadence testing for U.S. defense technologies.

Recent industry data places Hypersonix alongside other key players in the reusable hypersonic race. For instance, Stratolaunch successfully recovered its Talon-A2 vehicle in March 2025 after a Mach 5+ flight, and Hermeus completed the first flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 1 in May 2025. However, Hypersonix distinguishes itself by demonstrating a ground-launch capability via a rocket booster, rather than an air-launch system.

Dr. Michael Smart, Co-Founder and CTO of Hypersonix, noted the importance of real-world testing:

“DART AE allows us to validate propulsion, materials, and control systems at speeds and temperatures that simply can’t be replicated on the ground. What we learn from this mission will directly inform the next generation of operational hypersonic vehicles.”

AirPro News analysis

The decision to utilize green hydrogen for the SPARTAN scramjet represents a calculated risk with potentially high rewards. While hydrogen offers superior energy density by weight compared to hydrocarbon fuels, it presents storage and volumetric challenges. If the “Cassowary Vex” mission successfully demonstrates sustained Mach 7 flight using this fuel source, it could validate hydrogen as a viable fuel for future high-speed logistics and defense platforms, moving the industry away from heavier, dirtier hydrocarbon alternatives.

Furthermore, the reliance on additive manufacturing (3D printing) for the entire airframe suggests a shift toward rapid scalability. Traditional aerospace manufacturing is often slow and tooling-intensive. By printing the vehicle from high-temperature alloys, Hypersonix is attempting to prove that hypersonic vehicles can be produced quickly and at a lower cost, a critical requirement for the “high-cadence” testing sought by the US Defense Innovation Unit.

Financial Backing

Hypersonix’s development has been supported by significant capital investment. The company recently closed a $46 million Series A funding round. Investors include the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, the Queensland Investment Corporation, High Tor Capital (UK), and Saab (Sweden). This diverse backing underscores the international interest in the DART AE platform.

Sources

• Hypersonix Launch Systems
• Industry Reports

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission successfully lifted off early Friday morning, marking the beginning of an eight-month scientific expedition aboard the International Space Station (ISS). According to official reports from the space agency, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched at 5:15 a.m. EST on February 13, 2026, from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The mission carries a diverse international crew of four, including two NASA astronauts, one European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, and one Roscosmos cosmonaut. The crew is traveling aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named Freedom, which successfully separated from the rocket’s second stage and achieved orbit shortly after launch. NASA confirms the spacecraft is currently executing a series of engine burns to rendezvous with the orbiting laboratory, with docking scheduled for approximately 3:15 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 14.

Crew Profile and Mission Roles

The Crew-12 team comprises a mix of veteran spacefarers and first-time flyers who will join Expedition 74 aboard the ISS. NASA officials highlighted the specific roles and backgrounds of the four crew members:

• Jessica Meir (Commander, NASA): A veteran of Expedition 61/62 and a marine biologist, Meir is making her second trip to space. She is historically noted for participating in the first all-female spacewalk in 2019. As Commander, she is responsible for all phases of the flight from launch to re-entry.
• Jack Hathaway (Pilot, NASA): Making his first spaceflight, Hathaway is a U.S. Navy Commander and test pilot with over 2,500 flight hours. He joined the NASA astronaut corps in 2021 and is responsible for monitoring spacecraft systems and performance.
• Sophie Adenot (Mission Specialist, ESA): An engineer and helicopter test pilot from France, Adenot is the first astronaut from the ESA’s 2022 class to reach orbit. Her mission segment is officially designated “Epsilon” by the ESA.
• Andrey Fedyaev (Mission Specialist, Roscosmos): A Russian cosmonaut and military pilot, Fedyaev previously flew on the Crew-6 mission in 2023. He is tasked with monitoring flight phases and managing the Russian segment’s schedule.

Scientific Objectives for Expedition 74

During their eight-month stay, the crew will conduct hundreds of experiments designed to prepare humanity for future deep-space exploration, including missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA has outlined several critical research areas for this mission.

Medical and Biological Research

A primary focus of the mission involves understanding how the space environment affects human health. One key study will investigate how Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria interact with heart tissue in microgravity. According to mission documentation, bacteria can become more virulent in space, and researchers aim to identify the mechanisms behind potential long-term heart damage caused by respiratory infections.

Additionally, the crew will study fluid shifts and blood flow. This research examines how physical characteristics influence clotting risks during spaceflight, a vital dataset for mitigating health risks on long-duration missions.

Technology Demonstrations

The crew is also tasked with testing new life-support technologies. NASA highlights a system designed to generate intravenous (IV) fluids directly from the station’s water supply. This capability is considered critical for future Mars missions, where the logistical burden of carrying large supplies of pre-packaged medical fluids would be impractical.

Launch Infrastructure and Hardware

The launch of Crew-12 represents a continued effort to expand the operational redundancy of commercial spaceflight infrastructure. This mission is only the second human spaceflight to launch from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40). Historically used for cargo and satellite missions, SpaceX upgraded the pad to support crewed launches, providing a backup to the primary pad at Launch Complex 39A.

The hardware for this mission also highlights the reusability central to the Commercial Crew Program. The Dragon capsule Freedom is making its return to space, having previously supported the Crew-4, Ax-2, Ax-3, and Crew-9 missions.

AirPro News Analysis

The successful utilization of SLC-40 for Crew-12 underscores a maturing commercial space ecosystem. By validating a second launch pad for human missions, NASA and SpaceX have effectively mitigated the risk of single-point ground infrastructure failure. This redundancy is essential for maintaining a continuous human presence on the ISS, especially as the station approaches its final years of operation and traffic to low-Earth orbit increases.

Furthermore, the inclusion of an ESA rookie alongside seasoned NASA and Roscosmos veterans illustrates the continued reliance on the ISS as a diplomatic and cooperative platform. Despite geopolitical tensions on Earth, the integrated crew operations required for Expedition 74 demonstrate that space remains a unique venue for international collaboration.

Sources

• NASA Commercial Crew Blog
• European Space Agency (ESA)
• Space.com

This article is based on an official press release and mission data from NASA.

NASA and SpaceX Target Friday Morning for Crew-12 Launch to ISS

NASA and SpaceX teams are finalizing preparations for the launch of the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). According to an official update from NASA, the four-person crew is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 5:15 a.m. EST on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The mission will utilize a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon spacecraft named “Freedom.” As ground teams monitor weather conditions and technical systems, the astronauts are adhering to a strict pre-launch timeline to ensure readiness for their eight-month expedition.

Final Preparations and Launch Timeline

According to NASA, teams are conducting “final preparations” throughout Thursday, culminating in a critical weather briefing late in the evening. The agency reports that the crew is following a “precise checklist” of activities leading up to liftoff.

Mission data indicates that the Launch timeline follows a strict “L-Minus” schedule. Key milestones for the Friday morning launch include:

• L-4h 15m (01:00 AM EST): A final crew weather briefing to confirm conditions are safe for ascent.
• L-4h 00m: Astronauts will suit up in their custom SpaceX pressure suits and perform leak checks.
• L-3h 10m: The crew will exit the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building for the traditional “walkout” to the transport vehicles.
• L-35m: Fueling of the Falcon 9 rocket with RP-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen begins following a “Go/No-Go” poll.

Weather forecasts for the Friday morning window appear promising. Data indicates a 90% chance of favorable conditions at the launch site, with the primary watch item being cumulus clouds. This follows a previous delay caused by high winds along the ascent corridor.

The Crew-12 Team

The Crew-12 mission features a diverse international roster comprising two NASA astronauts, one European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, and one Roscosmos cosmonaut. They will join Expedition 74 aboard the ISS, restoring the station to a full seven-person crew.

Commander Jessica Meir (NASA)

A veteran of Expedition 61/62, Meir is famous for participating in the first all-female spacewalk. This marks her second spaceflight. Regarding the upcoming launch, Meir noted the atmosphere is becoming “very, very real” and expressed readiness to “pass the relay” to the next generation of explorers.

Pilot Jack Hathaway (NASA)

Making his first spaceflight, Hathaway is a former U.S. Navy Commander with more than 2,500 flight hours across 30 aircraft types. He emphasized the importance of his background, stating:

“We’re all a product of where we come from.”

, Jack Hathaway, NASA Pilot

Mission Specialist Sophie Adenot (ESA)

Adenot, a Helicopters test pilot from France, is the first from her 2022 ESA astronaut class to fly. Her mission, dubbed “Epsilon,” represents a significant milestone for European spaceflight. She described the ISS as “a very good symbol of what humanity can achieve when nations work together.”

Mission Specialist Andrey Fedyaev (Roscosmos)

Fedyaev is embarking on his second spaceflight, having previously flown on the Crew-6 mission.

Mission Objectives and Science

During their extended eight-month stay aboard the orbiting laboratory, the crew is slated to conduct over 200 science experiments. According to mission overviews, key research areas include:

• Venous Flow: Studying blood flow from the brain to the heart in microgravity to better understand clot risks.
• Manual Piloting: Testing pilot performance after long-duration spaceflight to aid planning for future Mars missions.
• Plant Health: Investigating how plants defend themselves against bacteria in the space environment.

AirPro News Analysis

The arrival of Crew-12 is operationally critical for the International Space Station. Following the early return of Crew-11, the station has been operating with a reduced staff. The restoration of a full seven-person crew will allow the station to return to maximum capacity for both maintenance and scientific output.

Furthermore, the inclusion of Sophie Adenot highlights the deepening integration of international partners in the Commercial Crew Program. As the “Epsilon” mission begins, it underscores the routine nature of these flights while reminding observers that the complexity of spaceflight requires, as NASA notes, a “precise checklist” and constant vigilance regarding weather and technical margins.

Sources:

• NASA Commercial Crew Blog