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Hypersonix Launch Systems
Reusable, hydrogen-powered hypersonic vehicles and scramjet engines
About Hypersonix Launch Systems
Hypersonix Launch Systems is an Australian aerospace engineering firm specializing in hypersonic vehicle and scramjet engine development for sustainable space access. The company was co-founded in 2019 by Dr. Michael Smart, a scramjet expert and former NASA research scientist, and David Waterhouse, a specialist in the technology, media, and telecom sector. Dr. Smart’s extensive background includes chairing Hypersonic Propulsion at the University of Queensland and a decade at NASA's Langley Research Center, aiming to commercialize the scramjet technology he developed over decades.
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The company's core technology is the SPARTAN scramjet engine, a 3D-printed, hydrogen-powered system with no moving parts. This design allows it to be reusable, self-igniting, and capable of operating between Mach 5 and Mach 12. By using atmospheric air as an oxidizer and green hydrogen as fuel, the engine produces only water vapor as exhaust, positioning it as a sustainable alternative to traditional rocket propulsion. Hypersonix is developing a portfolio of hypersonic vehicles, including the DART AE technology demonstrator, the VISR reusable multi-mission flyer, and the Delta Velos launch system for delivering small satellites to orbit. These platforms are designed for applications in satellite deployment, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), and hypersonic technology testing.
Hypersonix serves both commercial and government clients, with a significant focus on the defense sector. The firm secured a notable contract with the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to develop a high-speed test aircraft under the HyCAT program. The business model has transitioned from reliance on government grants to securing institutional investment. In August 2025, the company closed a Series A funding round with participation from strategic investors including High Tor Capital, Saab Ventures, and RKKVC, which will support its expansion, including U.S. trials and the build-out of manufacturing capabilities in Queensland.
At a glance
- Status
- Operational
- Founded
- 2019
- Headquarters
- Ipswich City, Australia
- Employees
- 62
- Open positions
- 9
- Dealroom signal
- 88.0/100
- Sector
- Space, Aerospace, Defence, Spinout, Sustainable Development Goals, Launch Vehicles, Spaceplanes and Hypersonic Flight, DT and LS, science-based, non-IP spinout
- Technology
- Hardware, 3D Technology, Deep Tech
- Business model
- Manufacturing
- Client focus
- b2b
Knowledge graph
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Funding history
Company financing events and reported valuations.
| Deal type | Date | Amount | Valuation | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERIES AOther financing | Oct 2025 | $46M | $184M | Saab Ventures · RKKVC · QIC Ventures · High Tor Capital | ↗ |
| SERIES AOther financing | Aug 2025 | $0 | — | Undisclosed | ↗ |
Growth signals
Latest recorded traffic for Hypersonix Launch Systems is 25K monthly website visits, up 31.6% over the last three months. Hypersonix Launch Systems's team grew 19.2% over the past year.
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Investments and acquisitions
Recent portfolio relationships for companies that also act as investors or acquirers.
Investors
From Dealroom's funding and investor records, grouped by the round each investor first entered.
Series A4 investors entered at this stage
High Tor Capital
Saab Ventures
RKKVC
QIC Ventures
Other known investors1 additional known investor
The University of Queensland
Source: Dealroom Talent Intelligence.
Global footprint
team presence
Market sentiment
An AI-synthesised read of the highest-engagement posts about Hypersonix Launch Systems on X, ranked by likes and reposts, corporate channels excluded.
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Source: X recent search ranked by engagement (likes + retweets) · Synthesis by Claude · Cached for 1 hour
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