Starfighters Space Prepares STARLAUNCH 1 for December Flight Test

Starfighters Space, Inc. (FJET) is preparing its STARLAUNCH 1 suborbital development vehicle for a planned captive-carry flight test in December. The aerospace company finalized the airframe design and ordered flight hardware from Italian engineering firm Robby Moto Engineering S.R.L. After delivery in November, assembly and interface testing will take place at the company hangar at NASA Kennedy Space Center ahead of the flight between Kennedy Space Center and Cecil Spaceport in Jacksonville, Florida.

The upcoming flight marks a transition from ground development to active flight testing. During the mission, STARLAUNCH 1 will fly attached beneath one wing while a customer-funded rideshare payload, the Wind Tunnel in the Sky hardware, flies beneath the other wing to provide aerodynamic stability. The test aims to verify rocket-aircraft integration, evaluate flight characteristics, and collect data for partners, including propulsion developer Vaya Defense & Space.

Following the December captive-carry mission, plans call for an Atlantic Ocean drop test and a demonstration of the integrated propulsion system. Data gathered will support filings with the FAA and Space Force while informing the concurrent development of the larger STARLAUNCH 2 vehicle. Meanwhile, shares of Starfighters Space traded down 6.25% at $1.50 following the announcement.