Mon, May 23, 2016
Rocket Successfully Flown At Woomera Test Range In Australia
An experimental rocket launched at the Woomera Test Range in Australia as part of the joint research program, HIFiRE (Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation Program) this week reached an apogee of 91,000 feet (278 km) and achieved the targeted speed of Mach 7.5 (seven and a half times the speed of sound).
Australian Chief Defense Scientist Dr. Alex Zelinsky passed along congratulations to the Australian-United States team on the success of an experimental hypersonic flight. “The success of this test launch takes us one step closer to the realization of hypersonic flight,” Dr. Zelinsky said.
The experimental flight was conducted by the Defense Science and Technology Group and the US Air Force Research Laboratory with Boeing and the University of Queensland providing expert technical design and analysis.
Hypersonic flight, involving speeds of more than five times the speed of sound, has the potential to provide immense social and economic benefits.
“It is a game-changing technology identified in the 2016 Defence White Paper and could revolutionise global air travel, providing cost-effective access to space,” Dr. Zelinsky said.
The program is aimed at exploring the fundamental technologies critical to the realisation of sustained hypersonic flight. Boeing’s chief scientist for hypersonics Kevin Bowcutt said the HIFiRE program will accelerate the development of operational hypersonic systems by producing valuable scientific flight data.
Professor Michael Smart from the University of Queensland praised the highly skilled individuals involved in the program and said they were placing the Australian aerospace industry on the international stage.
The HIFiRE team has already achieved some significant milestones such as the design, assembly and pre-flight testing of the hypersonic vehicles and the design of complex avionics and flight systems. More test flights are scheduled in the next two years.
(Image provided with Australia MoD news release)
More News
Inversion to Launch Reentry Vehicle Demonstrator Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 This fall, the aerospace startup Inversion is set to launch its Ray reentry demonstrator capsule aboard Spac>[...]
"We are excited to accelerate the adoption of electric aviation technology and further our journey towards a sustainable future. The agreement with magniX underscores our commitmen>[...]
"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]
Aero Linx: OX5 Aviation Pioneers Each year a national reunion of OX5 Aviation Pioneers is hosted by one of the Wings in the organization. The reunions attract much attention as man>[...]
"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]