Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Scramjet Test Successful

Posted by michael on from the zero-to-six-thousand-in-one-second dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes: "The Sacramento Bee is running this story about the first powered device to achieve "hypersonic" speeds in the Earth's atmosphere. In a series of DARPA-sponsored tests, at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee, a scramjet engine, encased in a titanium projectile, was fired from a 130-foot cannon, at an initial velocity of Mach 7.1. The scramjet's engines then ignited, and the object moved another 260 feet, in just 30 milliseconds, before it came to rest in a series of steel plates designed to halt the flight. Peak acceleration: about 10,000 G's. Elapsed time, including cigarettes & pillowtalk: less than a second. PS: According to this nifty page at NASA, Mach 7.1 is about 5406 MPH, whereas 260 ft, per 0.03 seconds, is about 5909 MPH."

7 of 300 comments (clear)

  1. I can see my first flight on one these babies now by case_igl · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard LotsaCashSpentDevelopingThis Airways.

    Flight Attendant #1:
    "Once we reach our cruising altitude we will begin our complimentary beverage service. Coke products are free while beer, wine, and liquor may be purchased for..."

    (interrupted by Flight Attendant #2):

    "LotsaCashSpentDevelopingThis Airways welcomes you to Paris DeGaulle Airport. The local time is 12:14pm."

  2. Calvins Beanie by squaretorus · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is great - forget those stupid little rotor blades! 10K G from a small metal tube on his head - lets see Hobbes bounce him NOW!!!

  3. Re:I can see my first flight on one these babies n by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    and...

    "Please wait while our molecular reconstructor negates the effect of the 10,000G acceleration. We will begin by fixing our first-class passengers..."

  4. What to stick on that bad boy... by Aqua+OS+X · · Score: 2, Funny

    Honestly, all I can think of is "what could I tie to that thing?"

    It's like I'm 8, I have a box of GI Joes that need to be punished, 1 scram jet engine, and a role of grey duct tape.

    --
    "Things are more moderner than before- bigger, and yet smaller- it's computers-- San Dimas High School football RULES!"
  5. Re:OT:Metric please? by brocktune · · Score: 2, Funny

    As a guide to our international readers, here is a quick reference. Here in the US, meters are what the gasman reads. Gram is a kind of cracker. Kilos are what is hidden in tire wells at the border crossing in Tiajuana. Megatons are what we drop on people who speak in funny languages.

  6. Re:I can see my first flight on one these babies n by sopuli · · Score: 2, Funny

    Of course at 10kG, by the time they arrive in Paris, all passengers will have changed into some kind of schnitzel.

  7. Re:OT:Metric please? by erlando · · Score: 2, Funny

    In the rest of the world; feet are what we walk on, miles is some dude named davis and yards are what is on the back side of the houses..

    --
    Remember, there are no stupid questions. But there are a lot of inquisitive idiots.