Hypersonic Test Vehicle Flies in Australia

Technology.am (May 24, 2009) — Scientists have accomplished a hypersonic flight trial. This test vehicle travels faster than five times the speed of sound.

Hypersonic technology offers a quantum leap in speed and fuel efficiency for air vehicles of the future. It means this technology supports to build the next-generation of air vehicles that could dramatically reduce inter-continental travel times.

The flights of this project are part of a joint research program between the Australian Defense Science and Technology Organization and the US Air Force Research Laboratory.

To guide the test vehicle in space, the nitrogen gas valves were used as thrusters.