SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service is being used by developers of hypersonic and hypersonic commercial aircraft on its test vehicles. BoomSupersonic and Hermeus, two companies developing new aircraft capable of supersonic and hypersonic flight, have installed Starlink terminals and are using the service on their testbeds and support aircraft.
Hermeus, a Georgia-based company aiming to develop the world's first supersonic civilian aircraft, is currently testing its Quarterhorse Mk1 prototype and, according to CEO AJ Piplica, has successfully taxied the aircraft using Starlink.
BoomSupersonic, on the other hand, integrated a Starlink antenna on its observation aircraft for testing of the XB-1 prototype and flew the antenna at Mach 0.95 as part of preparations for using Starlink for supersonic live broadcasts.
Hermeus' Piplica revealed on X that his company installed and tested the Starlink antenna on the aircraft in record time. Piplica's company is developing the Halcyon aircraft, which it hopes will become the first hypersonic passenger aircraft in human history. To develop Halcyon and Darkhorse unmanned military jets, Hermeus is currently developing the Quarterhorse Mk1 prototype.
The Mk1 was the first Quarterhorse test bed aircraft designed to fly. Hermeus unveiled the Mk1 in March this year and revealed that the aircraft would initially test high-speed takeoffs and landings. Since the Mk1 is a screwless aircraft, Hermeus will control it remotely. The aircraft will be tested at Edwards Air Force Base, and according to the CEO of Hermeus, his company installed SpaceX's Starlink terminal on the aircraft in a record 17 days.
Piplica shared that his company's process of integrating Starlink on the Mk1 began with the aircraft's need for a beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) communications system. BVLOS was integral to the testing of the Mk1 as the aircraft had to be operated remotely. SpaceX delivered the terminal to Hermeus two days after the company decided to use Starlink. Seven days later, Hermeus simulated Mk1 and Starlink, and six days later, the integration of Starlink on Mk1 was completed. At the same time, the company also tested a Mk1 simulator in a wind tunnel, placing the "Starlink" antenna on the top of the aircraft behind the vertical stabilizer.
The next day, Hermeus controlled the Mk1 to successfully glide through the Starlink connection. After conducting ground station, subsystem and other tests this year, the company aims to conduct the first Mk1 flight test in 2025.
While Hermeus has yet to fly a Starlink terminal in its test program, shortly after Piplica and company revealed the news, supersonic aircraft developer BoomSupersonic also shared how it is using Starlink in its development projects. CEO Blake Scholl outlined on X that his company has installed Starlink mini terminals on its T-38 aircraft and completed testing in just 15 days. The tests are part of BoomSupersonic's goal to live-stream the XB-1 test aircraft's first supersonic test flight.
Boom's XB-1 is a one-third scale prototype of the company's Overture commercial airliner design. The company plans to conduct flight tests of the aircraft next year. According to Scholl, his company procured a Starlink mini terminal and "sport tested it on a Miata, 3D printed a custom mount, integrated it into our T-38, and speed tested it at Mach 0.95," all in just 15 days.