STARLAUNCH I Rocket Concept Moves to Critical Design Review
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 20 2026
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Should l Buy FJET?
Source: Benzinga
- Design Review Progress: Starfighters Space announced it will enter a Critical Design Review with support from GE Aerospace after completing wind tunnel testing, expected to occur within the next two weeks, which will assess design readiness and lay the groundwork for subsequent fabrication and formal testing.
- Separation Dynamics Validation: Wind tunnel test results indicate that the STARLAUNCH I rocket exhibits clean separation behavior from its aircraft-based launch platform, aligning with computational models, providing an early risk reduction signal that underscores the design's effectiveness.
- Flight Validation Plan: Starfighters has begun purchasing an instrumented demonstrator vehicle for underwing flights to study separation dynamics under real conditions, planning to transition from ground checks to drop testing and ultimately flight evaluations to ensure design feasibility.
- GE Aerospace Involvement: GE Aerospace has supported earlier engineering and flight test activities for the STARLAUNCH project, with Starfighters indicating that leveraging GE's participation will enhance execution discipline and expedite risk reduction ahead of future manufacturing decisions.
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About FJET
Starfighters Space, Inc. operates the commercial fleet of flight-ready F-104 supersonic aircraft (Lockheed F-104). The Lockheed F-104 is developed as a supersonic aircraft for the United States Armed Forces. Supersonic flights capable of flying at MACH 2 with air-launch rockets in development through the Starfighters STARLAUNCH program. The Lockheed F-104 also performed many safety chase missions in support of advanced research aircraft and provided a launch platform for sounding rockets. The Company organizes its services into various categories: historical services and new services. Its historical services include pilot and astronaut training, launch services and access to space, and in-flight testing. Its new services include launch services and access to space (commercial, academic, civil and government clients), and airborne testbed for hypersonic research and development (R&D) and test and evaluation (T&E) test bed (commercial, academic, civil and government).
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Launch Capability Expansion: Franta announced plans for over 150 launches in 2026, a significant increase from just 12 launches per year 14 years ago, indicating strong growth potential in the aerospace market.
- Defense Collaboration: The company is partnering with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to develop hypersonic rockets, which can travel at speeds between 5 to 25 times the speed of sound, highlighting Starfighters' critical role in national security.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Franta compared the rapid growth of the space industry to the explosive app market in 2007, emphasizing that the upcoming SpaceX IPO is expected to have a positive impact on the entire sector, further enhancing Starfighters Space's market position.
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- Hypersonic Defense Investment: The Pentagon's $152 billion spending plan allocates $2.2 billion specifically to accelerate hypersonic defense systems and $5.6 billion for space-based interceptors, indicating a strong commitment to advancing future defense technologies.
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See More
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- Geographic Flexibility: The new location allows Starfighters to access nine different Air Force bases and test ranges across Texas, New Mexico, and California, improving scheduling flexibility and operational resilience.
- Equipment Doubling: Currently, there are four F-104 aircraft and 14 GE J-79 engines at Midland, with expectations to double these numbers in the next 18 months, significantly boosting the company's testing and launch capabilities.
- Strategic Partnership: Starfighters is collaborating with the Midland Development Corporation on high-speed corridor initiatives focused on safe supersonic flight, which is expected to further enhance its operational capacity and market responsiveness.
See More
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- Executive Resignation Impact: Starfighters Space announced on February 23, 2026, that founder Rick Svetkoff resigned from multiple key positions, leading to a decline in share price and investor confidence, potentially resulting in legal liabilities.
- Securities Law Compliance Investigation: Johnson Fistel, PLLP is investigating whether Starfighters Space complied with federal securities laws, particularly regarding investor losses following the executive resignations, highlighting concerns over corporate governance.
- Investor Loss Recovery: Investors who suffered losses from their investments in Starfighters Space stock are encouraged to join the investigation by Johnson Fistel, indicating the firm's commitment to protecting investor rights and pursuing legal remedies.
- IPO Background: Starfighters Space commenced trading on the NYSE American on December 18, 2025, and despite an initially positive performance, the sudden executive resignations may adversely affect its future market performance and investor trust.
See More
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- Increased Defense Spending: Congress approved an $839 billion defense budget for fiscal 2026, including $4 billion for missile warning and tracking satellites and $13.4 billion for integrating space and missile defense systems, highlighting the emphasis on space technology for national security.
- Leadership Change: Starfighters Space appointed Tim Franta as CEO, marking the company's transition into its commercialization era; Franta brings over 20 years of experience in space commercialization, which will drive the company's technological and market advancements.
- Technical Milestones: Starfighters Space completed subsonic and supersonic wind tunnel testing for STARLAUNCH 1, validating design maturity, and is expected to conduct a Critical Design Review in the coming weeks, further enhancing its space launch capabilities.
See More
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- New CEO Background: Tim Franta, who has been with Starfighters since October 2022 as VP of Development, brings extensive experience in aerospace and energy business development, which is expected to drive further advancements in the company's commercial space initiatives.
- Company Development History: Since founding Starfighters in 1996, Svetkoff has built the world's largest fleet of commercial supersonic aircraft, significantly enhancing the operational and financial foundation of the company, and the leadership change may affect its ongoing growth trajectory.
- Market Outlook: Starfighters aims to become the most cost-effective launch service provider, and with the new leadership in place, the company is expected to accelerate its participation in high-demand commercial space activities, enhancing its competitive position in the market.
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