Scramjet

The US Naval Research Laboratory has funded a groundbreaking project to develop a new hypersonic engine capable of morphing its shape during flight to optimize power, thrust and efficiency. It's now entering experimental testing in Florida.

Hypersonix Launch Systems is looking to make the delivery of satellites into orbit cheaper, more accessible, and greener by developing a reusable launch system powered by green hydrogen – and is eyeing off hypersonic airliners further down the line.

Aerojet Rocketdyne and the US Air Force Research Laboratory have achieved a new record thrust output from a scramjet engine, generating 13,000 lb of thrust with over an hour of combustion under various hypersonic conditions.

After a two-year upgrade of its test facilities, the AEDC Aerodynamic and Propulsion Test Unit at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee has finally been able to test the latest Northrop Grumman scramjet at simulated hypersonic speeds, setting a new thrust record in the process.

Reaction Engines' single-stage-to-orbit Skylon spacecraft took a step closer to reality today as BAE Systems announced that it would buy a 20 percent stake in the company.

If the University of Queensland (UQ) and Heliaq Advanced Engineering get their way, Australia could be joining the spacefaring club. The two are teaming up on a project intended to deliver payloads weighing from 50 to 500 kg (110 to 1,102 lb) into orbit.

Reaction Engines' Skylon reusable spaceplane project has been given a boost ,with analysis by the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) confirming the feasibility of the SABRE engine cycle concept that lies at its heart.

The University of Queensland’s Scramspace hypersonic experiment ended in failure today as the unmanned spacecraft plummeted into the North Sea off the coast of Norway. After a successful launch, Scramspace failed to reach the required altitude to begin the hypersonic flight experiment.

The University of Queensland’s Scramspace project hopes to launch its unmanned scramjet vehicle from a test range in Norway early next week. We caught up with Professor Russell Boyce to talk about Scramspace, the test flight, and the future of scramjet technology.