X-51 scramjet poised to bridge air and space propulsion

[lampblack]

When you least expect it, the future sneaks up and bites you on the butt:

The first hypersonic X-51 scramjet powered long-duration flights to give the Pentagon a new "Prompt Global Strike" capability that ties atmospheric and space propulsion will begin as early as May 25 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The X-vehicle scramjet flight tests are also a key step for the use of air breathing propulsion to launch into space.

LINK:
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1005/16waverider/

 

[SteveCNC]

That's awsome , been hearing about scramjet technology for quite some time now , glad to see it being put to use finally . This will no doubt lead to other applications in the private sector , can't wait !

 

[scottb50]

That's awsome , been hearing about scramjet technology for quite some time now , glad to see it being put to use finally . This will no doubt lead to other applications in the private sector , can't wait !

What does this have to do with air and space propulsion? It would make a remarkable standoff weapon but to get anything to Space it's a waste of time and money.

 

[lampblack]

That's awsome , been hearing about scramjet technology for quite some time now , glad to see it being put to use finally . This will no doubt lead to other applications in the private sector , can't wait !

What does this have to do with air and space propulsion? It would make a remarkable standoff weapon but to get anything to Space it's a waste of time and money.

The article claims that a scramjet might get you 60 percent of orbital velocity without having to carry any oxidizer. That'd represent a rather substantial weight savings compared to the way business is done currently.

 

[annodomini2]

Read up on Skylon, does the same thing using one type of engine

 

[nimbus]

That's awsome , been hearing about scramjet technology for quite some time now , glad to see it being put to use finally . This will no doubt lead to other applications in the private sector , can't wait !

What does this have to do with air and space propulsion? It would make a remarkable standoff weapon but to get anything to Space it's a waste of time and money.

The article claims that a scramjet might get you 60 percent of orbital velocity without having to carry any oxidizer. That'd represent a rather substantial weight savings compared to the way business is done currently.

So the objective is to make scramjets reliable enough that they could serve as first stage to orbit, like Scaled's WhiteKnight is to SpaceShip?

 

[MeteorWayne]

AFAIK, no functional aircraft (which is after all what it is) uses a scramjet. A few experimental craft do, with inconsistent succes.

 

[Booban]

From what I understand its the major technology breakthrough for cheap access to space, since the fuel it burns is air, it doesn't have to carry any (much less) itself. I imagine its just as applicable within earths atmosphere as well, don't need jet engines anymore. Wasnt Boeing chasing this for its hypersonic passenger plane before it gave up and switch to the Dreamliner.

Again, from what I read, the technology is sound and proven. Only problem is that they have no materials that can withstand the heat that is generated, all test aircraft have disintegrated.

 

[ZiraldoAerospace]

It isn't that they are disintegrating, the problem is keeping the fuel burning right and having it burn evenly to produce the right amount of thrust and not be blown out by the super compressed air.