Watch Rocket Lab launch hypersonic scramjet vehicle for the US military today
Space.com
by Mike Wall February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Rocket Lab successfully launched its "That's Not a Knife" mission today (Feb. 25) at 3 p.m. ET, marking a significant milestone in hypersonic technology for the U.S. military. The mission carried Hypersonix's DART AE vehicle, a 10-foot-long scramjet-powered demonstrator designed to test advanced propulsion, materials, and guidance systems under extreme hypersonic conditions. This flight, part of Rocket Lab's HASTE program (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron), is the first for DART AE and builds on previous tests to push the boundaries of hypersonic capabilities.
DART AE is powered by Hypersonix's 3D-printed Spartan scramjet engine, which uses hydrogen fuel instead of kerosene, reducing carbon emissions. Scramjets differ from ramjets in that they operate with supersonic airflows, enabling faster speeds than traditional engines. This technology demonstration is critical for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), a U.S. military branch focused on advancing commercial technologies for national security. The mission also highlights Rocket Lab's HASTE platform, a modified suborbital version of its Electron rocket designed specifically for hypersonic research.
The success of DART AE and the HASTE program underscores the growing importance of hypersonic technology in modern defense systems.
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Originally published on Space.com on 2/25/2026