NASA Unveils Scramjet Prototype
from the who-needs-fuel-when-you've-got-oxygen dept
NASA is getting ready to test their new "scramjet" prototype plane. People have talked about such technologies for years, but they've been pretty difficult to build. Everyone involved seems to think this could be a revolutionary step in air travel. If you're unfamiliar with the scramjet concept, it's to take oxygen from the air as its fuel. This prototype is going to fly at 5,000 mph, but can't take off or land on its own yet. They suggest that practical applications of the technology won't show up for another 25 years or so.
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Mis-represented X43 purpose.
1. how do you reach escape velocity without rockets (scramjet)
and
2. how would you get the plane up to mach 7 so you could use the scramjet (either a hybrid engine that can convert from a typical jet engine into a scramjet on the fly, or additional booster engines used for subsonic and supersonic flight... some might even suggest using a rocket to power the plane up to mach 7, which was done in WWII by the germans )
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Our SramShip designs ...
MT
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