Philosophy
Is there really a need for this?
US military scientists on Thursday launched a hypersonic aircraft but lost contact with the experimental plane in its second test flight, officials said.
The unmanned Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV-2), designed as a global bomber prototype capable of a mind-boggling 20 times the speed of sound, launched successfully from California aboard a Minotaur IV rocket, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
But after the plane separated from the rocket in the upper reaches of the atmosphere for its "glide" phase, contact was lost, DARPA said.
"Range assets have lost telemetry with HTV2," DARPA wrote in a Twitter post after the launch.
The agency provided no other details about the flight or how long it had been separated from the rocket.
Last year, scientists lost contact with the HTV-2 after nine minutes in its inaugural flight.
The hypersonic plane, which is supposed to travel at Mach 20, or 13,000 miles (21,000 kilometers) per hour, could potentially provide the US military with a platform for striking targets anywhere on the planet within minutes using conventional weapons.
Such a weapon, still in development, is part of what the US Air Force has dubbed "prompt global strike" capability.
"The ultimate goal is a capability that can reach anywhere in the world in less than an hour," DARPA said on its website.
In theory, the Falcon could travel between New York City and Los Angeles in less than 12 minutes.
Unlike a ballistic missile, a hypersonic vehicle could maneuver and avoid flying along a predictable path. Moreover, analysts say it would not be mistaken for a nuclear missile, avoiding the possibility of triggering a nuclear confrontation.
But Loren Thompson, an analyst at Lexington Institute with links to the defense industry, said there was still much work to be done before the hypersonic bomber becomes a reality.
"The military has a long way to go before hypersonic vehicles are ready for deployment," Thompson told AFP.
After separating from the rocket Thursday, the Falcon undertook some maneuvers before contact was lost, DARPA said.
The test flight plan called for the Falcon to eventually roll and dive into the Pacific Ocean.
Faster than a speeding bullet?--you bet
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Philosophy
Lost at sea...Falcon HTV-2
Is there really a need for this?
"US military loses contact with hypersonic aircraft"
August 11th, 2011
Space Travel
August 11th, 2011
Space Travel
US military scientists on Thursday launched a hypersonic aircraft but lost contact with the experimental plane in its second test flight, officials said.
The unmanned Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV-2), designed as a global bomber prototype capable of a mind-boggling 20 times the speed of sound, launched successfully from California aboard a Minotaur IV rocket, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
But after the plane separated from the rocket in the upper reaches of the atmosphere for its "glide" phase, contact was lost, DARPA said.
"Range assets have lost telemetry with HTV2," DARPA wrote in a Twitter post after the launch.
The agency provided no other details about the flight or how long it had been separated from the rocket.
Last year, scientists lost contact with the HTV-2 after nine minutes in its inaugural flight.
The hypersonic plane, which is supposed to travel at Mach 20, or 13,000 miles (21,000 kilometers) per hour, could potentially provide the US military with a platform for striking targets anywhere on the planet within minutes using conventional weapons.
Such a weapon, still in development, is part of what the US Air Force has dubbed "prompt global strike" capability.
"The ultimate goal is a capability that can reach anywhere in the world in less than an hour," DARPA said on its website.
In theory, the Falcon could travel between New York City and Los Angeles in less than 12 minutes.
Unlike a ballistic missile, a hypersonic vehicle could maneuver and avoid flying along a predictable path. Moreover, analysts say it would not be mistaken for a nuclear missile, avoiding the possibility of triggering a nuclear confrontation.
But Loren Thompson, an analyst at Lexington Institute with links to the defense industry, said there was still much work to be done before the hypersonic bomber becomes a reality.
"The military has a long way to go before hypersonic vehicles are ready for deployment," Thompson told AFP.
After separating from the rocket Thursday, the Falcon undertook some maneuvers before contact was lost, DARPA said.
The test flight plan called for the Falcon to eventually roll and dive into the Pacific Ocean.
Faster than a speeding bullet?--you bet
- Delta Iv Heavy Rocket Slips A Spy Satellite Into Orbit
"America's biggest rocket blasts off, likely carrying spy satellite" by W.J. Hennigan August 28th, 2013 Los Angeles Times A 235-foot-tall rocket carrying a top-secret spy satellite roared to life and blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base,...
- Nasa Is Learning From Mistakes--two Books
Helios Solar-Powered Flying Wing "NASA Books Reveal Wisdom Gained from Failure" by Jim Banke April 2nd, 2013 SPACE MART Preventing future aviation accidents is the motive behind two books published by NASA, one brand new and one that is a year old and...
- Good Luck...just Way Too Many Issues To Address
"Space travel: Finding the technology to traverse the stars" The research-and-development arm of the U.S. military is launching a 100-Year Starship Study to find the technologies necessary for interstellar travel. by Amina Khan August 6th, 2011 Los...
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Crew Space Transportation-100 [CST-100] "Boeing unveils its commercial capsule spacecraft" July 22nd, 2010 PhysOrg.com Boeing won an award worth $18 million from NASA under the Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) Space Act Agreement, which was intended...
- Boeing 367-80, Or "dash 80", Or 707
Noisy and still in operation. "July 15, 1954: Boeing 707 Makes First Flight" by Jason Paur July 14th, 2010 Wired 1954: The Boeing 367-80 makes its first flight from Renton Field southeast of Seattle. The jet-powered airliner will become the Boeing 707...