Revolutionizing Flying with Hypersonic Speed
Hypersonic flight is pushing the boundaries of speed as companies are signaling a new era of high-velocity travel. Recently, the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command announced that it awarded contracts to Rocket Lab USA, Inc. and Stoke Space to further efforts to broaden its launch system portfolio for critical space operations. They will join SpaceX, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance as part of the U.S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch program, which aims to improve the nation’s space launch infrastructure by adding a wider range of service providers.
Hypersonic travel is defined as flight at speeds exceeding Mach 5m which is 3,836 mph. For comparison, most commercial airliners cruise between 550-600 mph.
Hypersonic Advancements
Rocket Lab and Stoke Space will each receive $5 million to fund an initial skills assessment. The contracts highlight the growing desire to advance hypersonic technologies for national security purposes. But hypersonic advancements are not only set to transform military aviation but also civilian.
For civilian aviation, it’s predicted that passengers can reach any destination worldwide in just 90 minutes. In defense, hypersonic technologies will strengthen strategic capabilities, influencing global security dynamics. Companies are also exploring how to make air travel more sustainable by using hydrogen as fuel since hydrogen is known for its clean and versatile energy potential.
Challenges Ahead
While hypersonic travel will be revolutionary, achieving this feat will require addressing heating, structural, fuel capacity, and handling challenges. Moreover, companies are determining how aircrafts can handle hypersonic speeds and stabilize during flight, as controls will need to be extremely agile and fine-tuned for smooth operations. There are also environmental concerns, the largest one being jet fuel usage because supersonic jets burn around 3-7 times more fuel per passenger mile than regular jets.
Despite these challenges, the push behind hypersonic technology is undeniable. The future of travel and defense are contingent on companies developing hypersonic travel. Whether arriving on other continents in under an hour or fortifying national security, hypersonic innovation is propelling us into a faster, more connected future.
