All articles tagged with #hypersonic flight
A retired SR-71 Blackbird has disappeared from public display at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, fueling speculation about a return-to-flight program or a new hypersonic testbed. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman recently hinted at rebuilding the X-plane fleet to fly 'higher and faster,' while the agency declined to confirm the aircraft's current status.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman displayed a silhouette resembling the SR-71 Blackbird at the All-In Summit, signaling a push to revive high-speed experimental flight. While he denied it is a Blackbird, he confirmed NASA is rebuilding its X-plane portfolio to fly faster and higher. The agency is already testing the X-59 for quiet supersonic travel and has outlined budget priorities for hypersonic research, though the specific status of the new aircraft remains unclear.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have built a plasma tunnel that mimics the extreme heat and pressure of reentry, reaching up to 9,000°F to test materials, heat shields, and sensors under hypersonic conditions; the facility can also reproduce Mars-like CO2 atmospheres, and scientists are exploring magnetic control of the plasma to potentially steer reentry, which could improve future spacecraft safety and maneuverability.
Stratolaunch successfully conducted the first powered flight of its Talon vehicle, reaching "high supersonic" speeds in an uncrewed test. The vehicle, TA-1, achieved its major test objectives, including release from the Roc aircraft, ignition of its engine, sustained acceleration, and controlled climb through high supersonic speeds before decelerating and gliding to an ocean splashdown. The company's next vehicle, TA-2, a reusable hypersonic vehicle, is scheduled for flight tests in the second half of the year. Stratolaunch is also modifying a Boeing 747 acquired last year to serve as a second air-launch platform.
NASA's Technology Transfer Program is licensing a new form of propulsion that uses electromagnets to control the flow of plasma over aircraft and spacecraft during hypersonic flight. The concept involves electrodes embedded on the heat shield, which capture the electrical charge in the ionized gas flow outside the craft. An electromagnet beneath the heat shield can then control the flow of gas to reduce drag or steer the vehicle. This magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) system is simpler than conventional methods and enables new mission architectures for entry, descent, and landing. NASA invites companies to apply for licensing the technology.