This type of first generation vehicle will be reusable and capable of cruising flights at Mach 6 speed, which will also serve as access to space.
NASA studies the fundamental science of hypersonic speed to better understand it and applies this knowledge to enable point-to-point and space access vehicles.
These vehicles would use engines that “breathe” air, as they take advantage of the oxygen in the atmosphere. In the long term, the agency anticipates that there will be reusable hypersonic vehicles with efficient engines for routine flights across the globe.
He explained that in the next decade, enabling technologies will be developed for a first-generation reusable air-breathing vehicle capable of cruising flight at hypersonic speeds. This work supports potential emerging markets in high-speed flight.
By 2050, NASA anticipates developing a next-generation reusable hypersonic vehicle that could serve as the first stage of a two-stage space access vehicle.
To this end, it maintains unique facilities, laboratories and subject matter experts who investigate areas of fundamental and applied research to solve the challenges of hypersonic flight.
The Hypersonics Technology project coordinates closely with partners from industry, academia, and other government agencies to leverage relevant data sets and validate computational models.
These partners also leverage NASA’s expertise, facilities and computational tools. Partnerships are critical to advancing the state of the art of hypersonic flight.
