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NASA Provides Results Of Scramjet Test
Guinnessy writes "Last March, NASA carried out the world's first test flight of a scramjet-powered aircraft. The Industrial Physicist has the latest results from this test. According to the article scramjet-powered missiles and aircraft could be in mass production as early as 2010. This piece is also a good introduction for those unfamilar with scramjet technology."
Any aerospace engineers in the know want to comment?
Well, I am not an expert in reentry, but I'll take a crack at your question. I think the important thing is not maximum heating, but rather some integral of heating over time. If the shuttle or other vehicle entered more gradually, it may be that it would actually reach a higher temperature because it would have more time to soak up the heat from the plasma around it. No matter how well you insulate something, eventually it has to reach practically the same temperature as its surroundings. You hope to get on the ground long before that happens.
Wings are heavy and delicate, and it would be hard to imagine that they could be large enough to significantly lift the craft at high altitude and lower speed and still survive the heating. (The heavier the wings are, the more kinetic energy you need to dissipate to slow down--and the more heating you get.) IMHO wings are a dumb thing to carry into space with you. Lifting bodies are better.
Not exactly, it was carried atop a regular airplay at several hundred miles per hour, then the rocket booster kicked it up to the cruising altitude and THEN the scramjet engine was engaged for the 10 second burn.
It's damned impressive but it's not like it accellerated to 5000 mph from a standstill.
LK
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