Two US companies have successfully launched a hypersonic test rocket to 55,500ft from the Gulf of Mexico.
The test was performed by space and missile launch platform firm The Spaceport Company and Evolution Space, a startup founded in 2018 that makes solid rocket motors for space research and defense.
The successful sea-based launch of the sub-scale test rocket on August 31, 2025 demonstrates the possibility of at-sea space launch sites and provides the US military with a new range for hypersonic and missile testing, said Evolution space.
The launch used the Spaceport Company’s offshore vessel “Once in a Lifetime” and tested the company’s proprietary motion compensation platform as part of their ongoing services for the US Government’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).
The test follows the recent announcement that Evolution has won a contract to develop solid propulsion hypersonic vehicles for the US Air Force.
Evolution added that the at-sea test demonstrated the precision and proficiency of their hypersonic technology.
“Testing for hypersonic launch at sea is an incredible experience,” said Matthew Merighi, Evolution’s director of strategy and business development. “We share a mission with The Spaceport Company to provide new solutions to the Defense Department’s infrastructure challenges. We believe companies like ours must collaborate to maximize the transformative growth we bring to U.S. defense capabilities.”
Tom Marotta, CEO of the Spaceport Company said, “We are very excited about the success of this test. It strengthens our mission of expanding launch capacity, capabilities, and cadence, and this validation of our technology is proof we not only have the vision but the technical expertise to deliver.
“We’re proud to again partner with Evolution for this second joint sea launch and look forward to future opportunities to showcase our end-to-end shared service capabilities.”
