An apparatus includes a body having at least one pitch control system and a mounting system, the mounting system configured to couple to a payload. The apparatus also includes a rocket engine coupled to the body and configured to accelerate the body to a hypersonic speed. The apparatus further includes a control system configured to release the payload while the body moves at the hypersonic speed by commanding the at least one pitch control system to adjust an angle of attack of the body to a negative angle of attack and commanding the mounting system to release the payload while the body is moving at the hypersonic speed and at the negative angle of attack.