Chris Posted March 28, 2004 Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 (07:50) The US space agency, NASA, has broken the air speed record by propelling a revolutionary powered unmanned plane to seven times the speed of sound.The ten-second burst, at almost 5,000mph, shattered the previous record set 28 years ago, and took place earlier this month in a test over the Pacific Ocean.The four-metre long craft uses what is described as a 'scramjet engine', which can propel planes at hypersonic speeds and was launched from a B52 bomber off the coast of California.More | HereAn experimental hypersonic plane has broken the world speed record by flying at seven times the speed of sound, said US space agency Nasa. The unpiloted X-43A aircraft used a scramjet engine that could one day usher in a new generation of space shuttle propulsion systems.More | HereNASA PAGE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 28, 2004 Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 Kiss goodbye to the ozone layer then ...If this goes commercial ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted March 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 Experts estimate that the first manned craft powered by scramjets would not take to the air until the year 2025.A little wait yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 28, 2004 Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 Good time to buy some shares in sun block cream manufacturers as an investment for your kids ..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy-2004 Posted March 28, 2004 Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 Good time to buy some shares in sun block cream manufacturers as an investment for your kids .....lol :D :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moon Posted March 28, 2004 Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 I can't believe that they are hailing it as ' the means for future supersonic passenger travel' as if Concorde never existed. Just wait til they try to get scramjet permissions to land at Heathrow City. :DEdit: I've been thinking about it. Absolutely nobody will grant civil permissions and it's useless as a shuttle replacement due to its 'oxygen from the atmosphere' requirements. Thus its only 'use' would be military. Let's get in first and ban the effin scramjet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 28, 2004 Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 The engine has a possibility as a sub orbital launcher ...... Mach 7 to the outer atmosphere envelope , then close the air intakes, pump in liquid oxygen converting it into a rocket for the rest of the mission into space ...... Saves on a lot of oxidant for the initial launch ( less fuel weight) Nasa's shuttle is close to being a museum piece ....They need a replacement .....Sort of reminds you of the early Nuclear industry ....The public ...clean free power to the people was pushed ...but the main tecnological (military) drive was plutonium ................................................................................Just had a nose around DARPA Team Fire Up Scramjet Engine For Future Cruise Missilespace daily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moon Posted March 28, 2004 Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 DARPA Team Fire Up Scramjet Engine For Future Cruise MissileYou mean this one will miss the target way faster than any of its forerunners ? :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankus Posted March 28, 2004 Report Share Posted March 28, 2004 Its just in case theres a British aircraft flying in another part of the world Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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