Science & Technology

Hypersonic rocket could revolutionize travel

By T.K. Randall
May 21, 2016 ·  7 comments

The test flight went without a hitch. Image Credit: NASA / AFRL The project, which is being developed as part of a collaboration between NASA, Australia's Department of Defence and America's Air Force Research Laboratory, aims to build an aircraft capable of travelling at many times the speed of sound.

Known as HIFiRE ( Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation Program ), the project has shown significant promise and could make the dream of a hypersonic passenger plane a reality.

This week the team celebrated the completion of a successful test flight which saw a rocket climb to an altitude of 172 miles while reaching speeds of up to 5,700mph ( 7.5 times the speed of sound. )Eventually they are hoping to develop a viable hypersonic air travel solution capable of taking passengers from London to New York within the space of just 35 minutes.

The same technology could also be used as an inexpensive way to get satellites in to orbit.

"The success of this test launch takes us one step closer to the realisation of hypersonic flight," said Australia's Chief Defence Scientist Dr Alex Zelinsky.

"It is a game-changing technology identified in the 2016 Defence White Paper and could revolutionise global air travel, providing cost-effective access to space."

Source: Popular Science | Comments (7)

Tags: Hypersonic