Texas aerospace firm making hypersonic jet that travels 3.5k miles in one hour reports successful flight
- A startup has successfully tested its rocket engine
- The engine could make hypersonic travel a reality
- It could hit speeds between four and six times the speed of sound
Published on May 19, 2025 at 5:58 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on May 19, 2025 at 12:22 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Texas-based startup Venus Aerospace has successfully completed a test flight of its next-generation rocket engine that could pave the way for hypersonic travel.
Venus Aerospace wants to one day create aircraft that can travel between four and six times the speed of sound from a conventional runway.
Its recent test flight of its Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) marks a major milestone on that journey.
The test flight is the first of its kind in the US, and possibly even the world.
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The demonstration of the RDRE took place at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
On its very first attempt, the RDRE successfully launched and flew its engine, showing that it can operate under real-world conditions.
“This is the moment we’ve been working toward for five years,” Sassie Duggleby, CEO and Co-founder of Venus Aerospace, said.
“We’ve proven that this technology works — not just in simulations or the lab, but in the air. With this milestone, we’re one step closer to making high-speed flight accessible, affordable, and sustainable.”
Exciting stuff, right?
RDREs have better efficiency and compactness, which makes them ideal for aerospace applications.
The engine that is being designed and built by Venus will be affordable and scalable for both defense and commercial systems, meaning it could be used for hypersonic travel for passenger flights.
The company says the engines could one day be able to fly passengers from Los Angeles to Tokyo in under two hours.
Venus Aerospace’s ultimate goal is to build the Stargazer M4, a Mach 4 reusable passenger aircraft, and its RDRE test flight this month brings that closer to reality.
“This milestone is a testament to what’s possible when engineering rigor meets entrepreneurial urgency,” said Dr. Rodney Bowersox, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University.
“Rotating detonation rocket engines have been a scientific curiosity for decades. Venus is showing the world that they aren’t just academically interesting — they’re buildable, testable, and operational under real-world conditions. This is how aerospace innovation should look.”
The hypersonic market is currently big business and is expected to be worth $12 billion by 2030.
Of course, Venus isn’t the only company working on hypersonic travel. Hypersonix, an Australian startup, is working on a plane known as Dart AE, which would be capable of flying at Mach 7.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
