DEPLOYDatabase

Robot model

Rook

spaceresearchby Hop Aero

Rook is an autonomous hypersonic cargo rocket that delivers 250 kg (550 lbs) of payload up to 750 km (450 miles) in approximately 15 minutes.

Track Rook
Manufacturer
Hop Aero
Form factor
space
Maturity
research
Lifecycle
active

The verified answer

As of Oct 2026, DEPLOY verifies Rook, a space by Hop Aero (research). 2 sources back the record.

Overview

Rook is an autonomous hypersonic cargo rocket that delivers 250 kg (550 lbs) of payload up to 750 km (450 miles) in approximately 15 minutes. It launches from a standard 40-foot shipping container and lands on unprepared surfaces, requiring no runways or fixed infrastructure. The vehicle flies point-to-point at hypersonic speeds through space, re-entering the atmosphere to deliver cargo to austere locations. Completed tethered flight testing of a small-scale prototype and successful engine hot-fire testing.

Verified vs. claimed

Maturity stage
research(Lab-stage only; no commercial or public deployment reported.)
Sources on file
View all sources →

No verified deployments on file. DEPLOY tracks independently-sourced deployment evidence separately from manufacturer capability claims.

Key facts

Payload

250 kg (550 lbs)

Range

750 km (450 miles)

Flight time

~15 minutes

Speed class

Hypersonic

Launch

Standard 40-foot shipping container

Landing

Unprepared surfaces, no runway required

Autonomy

Fully autonomous

Example route

Okinawa to Taiwan in 15 minutes

Test status

Tethered flight test + engine hot-fire completed

Specs

Range

750 km (450 miles)

Landing

Unprepared surfaces, no runway required

Payload

250 kg (550 lbs)

Flight time

~15 minutes

Speed class

hypersonic

Launch method

Standard 40-foot shipping container

Data & sources

Web sources

2

2 sources backing this record.View all →

Pricing

No verified price is on record for Rook. Physical-AI systems are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price.

How DEPLOY tracks pricing

Recent activity

Every change to this record is dated, sourced, and independently verified where marked.

Full change history →

Safety record

No incidents on record for Rook.

Only active incidents are counted. Retracted incidents are excluded from this summary but remain reachable at their canonical URLs.

Sources (2)

  1. Hop Aero: Y Combinator company page · https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/hop-aero · 2026-07-28
  2. Introducing Rook by Hop Aero · https://x.com/milenovic925501 · 2026-07-28

Mentioned on (1)

Registry pages whose text names Rook.

Companies (1)

Hop Aero

Common questions

What is Rook?
Rook is an autonomous hypersonic cargo rocket that delivers 250 kg (550 lbs) of payload up to 750 km (450 miles) in approximately 15 minutes. It launches from a standard 40-foot shipping container and lands on unprepared surfaces, requiring no runways or fixed infrastructure. The vehicle flies point-to-point at hypersonic speeds through space, re-entering the atmosphere to deliver cargo to austere locations. Completed tethered flight testing of a small-scale prototype and successful engine hot-fire testing.
How much does Rook cost?
Rook's price is not publicly disclosed. DEPLOY has no verified price on record for Rook from Hop Aero. Physical-AI systems like this are often sold through enterprise contracts or operated as a service rather than at a public list price; check the manufacturer for the latest.
Is Rook actually deployed in the real world?
Rook is at the research stage: it exists, but DEPLOY has no verified real-world deployment on record. Manufacturer capability claims should be read as claims pending independent verification.
What are the specs of Rook?
Rook's recorded specifications on the DEPLOY registry: Range: 750 km (450 miles); Payload: 250 kg (550 lbs); Flight time: ~15 minutes. See the Specs section for the full sourced set.
Who makes Rook?
Rook is made by Hop Aero, based in Los Angeles, CA, USA, founded in 2024.
Can you buy Rook?
Rook is at research stage and is not yet available for sale.
What are alternatives to Rook?
On the DEPLOY registry, comparable space robots to Rook include Chang'e Lander, Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle, ION, Mira.
How does Rook compare to Chang'e Lander?
Rook and Chang'e Lander (China National Space Administration · 4 deployments) are both space robots on the DEPLOY registry. Rook has 0 verified deployments on record. Compare both records for specs, safety, deployments, and verified-vs-claimed autonomy.
Is Rook a top space?
On DEPLOY's intelligence score, which blends verified deployments, safety, adoption, media, and IP signals, Rook ranks in roughly the top 80% of space models tracked by the registry.
What is Rook's maturity stage?
Rook is at the research stage on the DEPLOY maturity ladder (research, prototype, pilot, commercial, production). Research stage means active development without commercial deployments on file.
Where is Rook deployed?
No verified deployments of Rook are currently on the DEPLOY registry. DEPLOY records deployments only when verified at a named site with a primary source; absence may reflect pre-deployment, research, or manufacturer-internal use.
Is Rook safe?
Rook has no incidents on record in the DEPLOY registry. This does not constitute a safety guarantee; it reflects the incidents DEPLOY has tracked and verified to date.
Methodology: Verified · 2 sources (no primary) · last reviewed 2026-10-10

Verification posture

Verified

Low confidence

Review state

Stable

Last reviewed 2026-10-10

Maturity + lifecycle

Maturity stage: research

Lifecycle: active

Architectural position

Cohort: space

Sources by quality tier

2
unclassified
Unclassified source

The framework is documented at /methodology. Corrections at /corrections. Reviewer: DEPLOY editorial team.

Methodology surface for Rook.