Focus graphite used in hypersonic rocket launch

Executive Summary

• Focus Graphite’s Lac Knife graphite was used to manufacture a near‑net‑shape nozzle installed on Pluto Aerospace’s Dash 1 Flight 003 solid‑fuel rocket, achieving the company’s first real‑world aerospace validation.
• The hypersonic sounding rocket reached >45,000 ft, with nozzle temperatures exceeding 3,000 °C, demonstrating Lac Knife graphite’s performance in extreme high‑temperature and high‑stress environments relevant to defence and commercial rocketry.
• Data from the flight will support further development of graphene‑based coatings for icephobic and radar‑suppression applications and positions Focus Graphite as a domestic supplier for critical national‑security material needs.

Key Details

• Launch Information: Conducted on 23 Aug 2025 at 08:21 a.m. PT from the Mojave Desert test range (between Edwards AFB and NAWCWD China Lake, CA).
• Rocket Performance: Altitude >45,000 ft; record‑setting flight duration and range for Pluto Aerospace’s Dash 1 platform.
• Nozzle Materials: Near‑net shape graphite nozzle fabricated from Lac Knife natural and synthetic graphite supplied by American Energy Technologies Company (AETC) and integrated into the solid‑fuel rocket.
• Thermal Conditions: Nozzle experienced temperatures >3,000 °C during hypersonic flight, validating thermal resistivity of Lac Knife material.
• Collaborators: AETC (graphite supply/manufacturing), Pluto Aerospace (rocket provider), ACP Technologies (support), Focus Graphite (material supplier), and U.S. government representatives attended.
• Future Plans: Continued participation in upcoming launches, including trials of graphene‑based coatings derived from Lac Knife graphite for icephobic and radar‑suppression uses on rocket fins; potential transfer to UAV/drone applications.
• Strategic Implications: Demonstrates capability to supply North‑American‑sourced high‑performance graphite for defence and aerospace, aligning with increasing government investment in national‑security critical minerals (e.g., NATO initiatives, “Golden Dome” program).

Notable Quotes

“This is a landmark moment for Focus Graphite, and we are proud to see Lac Knife material play a role in such an important aerospace demonstration,” – Jason Latkowcer, Vice‑President, Corporate Development, Focus Graphite.

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