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HyShot Scramjet Test Declared a Success

Posted by michael on from the once-the-scramjets-go-up dept.

An anonymous reader writes: "ABC news is reporting that analysis of the flight data from the recent HyShot scramjet test (covered by Slashdot previously) suggests that the test was successful and that the engine achieved combustion in flight after reaching Mach 7.6. The University of Queensland is also reporting the news."

3 of 253 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Actual Destinations? by Oculus+Habent · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Mach 7.6 is right around 2,260 m/s (7,414 ft/s) or about 5,055 mph. It would still take you 5 hours to circumnavigate the globe. Plus you have to consider acceleration time - the rocket doesn't have to worry about killing people.

    Realistically, we probably won't hit Mach 7 in commercial flights for some time, and there will probably be "low-speed" versions for shorter distances. As the article notes (emphasis mine):

    The engine kicked into action on the way back down at 35 kilometres above the earth, with data transmitted by radio until it began to burn up.

    --
    Warning! Error reporting system failu

    --
    That what was all this school was for... to teach us how to solve our own problems. -- janeowit
  2. Re:Just a question: by smagoun · · Score: 4, Interesting
    What's the difference between a normal jet engine and a scramjet?

    Almost everything. Normal jet engines have lots of moving parts - turbines, compressors, etc. Ramjets and scramjets don't have any moving parts. They also require very high velocities to work properly, whereas a turbojet/turbofan is quite happy running all day long without moving.

  3. Re:Actual Destinations? by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 4, Interesting
    What you do have the potential for (given significant further progress) is very fast cruise missiles, not ICBM's.

    Very fast ramjet cruise missiles were under development in the 1950's, but they fell out of favor because ICBMs are even faster and just about impossible to shoot down. However, they did look way cooler than today's boring ICBMs.