NASA Unveils New Grants to Boost Hypersonic Flight Development
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched a significant initiative aimed at advancing hypersonic flight testing, with the goal of pushing aircraft capable of flying five times the speed of sound into reality. While simultaneously collaborating with US aviation to develop commercial supersonic technologies, NASA's Hypersonic Technology Project is working towards "airbreathing," reusable hypersonic aircraft that can sustain long periods of cruise at incredible speeds.
Unlike traditional rockets that rely on carrying oxygen supplies, NASA's project focuses on developing vehicles that can harness the surrounding air, making the technology more feasible for widespread adoption. To aid in this development process, two new contract awards have been issued to SpaceWorks Enterprises and Stratolaunch of Mojave, California.
The grants are designed to help bridge the gap between hypersonic ground and flight tests, with NASA collaborating closely with industry experts to identify innovative approaches for evaluating technologies through on-flight testing. Dr. Nateri Madavan, director of NASA's Advanced Air Vehicles Program, emphasized that the agency is committed to working with commercial partners to push the boundaries of airbreathing hypersonic flight.
SpaceWorks Enterprises will receive $500,000 and will focus on modifying its X-60 platform for enhanced reusable capabilities, while Stratolaunch will get $1.2 million to develop its Talon-A platform. The joint effort aims to define the necessary capabilities required for successful flight testing, with potential implications for future NASA initiatives focused on advancing commercial hypersonic vehicles.
By investing in these grants, NASA is well-positioned to lead US efforts in hypersonic research and make significant strides towards revolutionizing fundamental airbreathing technologies.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched a significant initiative aimed at advancing hypersonic flight testing, with the goal of pushing aircraft capable of flying five times the speed of sound into reality. While simultaneously collaborating with US aviation to develop commercial supersonic technologies, NASA's Hypersonic Technology Project is working towards "airbreathing," reusable hypersonic aircraft that can sustain long periods of cruise at incredible speeds.
Unlike traditional rockets that rely on carrying oxygen supplies, NASA's project focuses on developing vehicles that can harness the surrounding air, making the technology more feasible for widespread adoption. To aid in this development process, two new contract awards have been issued to SpaceWorks Enterprises and Stratolaunch of Mojave, California.
The grants are designed to help bridge the gap between hypersonic ground and flight tests, with NASA collaborating closely with industry experts to identify innovative approaches for evaluating technologies through on-flight testing. Dr. Nateri Madavan, director of NASA's Advanced Air Vehicles Program, emphasized that the agency is committed to working with commercial partners to push the boundaries of airbreathing hypersonic flight.
SpaceWorks Enterprises will receive $500,000 and will focus on modifying its X-60 platform for enhanced reusable capabilities, while Stratolaunch will get $1.2 million to develop its Talon-A platform. The joint effort aims to define the necessary capabilities required for successful flight testing, with potential implications for future NASA initiatives focused on advancing commercial hypersonic vehicles.
By investing in these grants, NASA is well-positioned to lead US efforts in hypersonic research and make significant strides towards revolutionizing fundamental airbreathing technologies.
anyway NASA always been good about pushing boundaries and I love how they're working with industry experts now. This is gonna be sick
. i mean, who needs fast planes anyway? and what's with all these grants? shouldn't they be using that money to fix some real problems on earth instead of chasing after some fancy tech? and what's the point of reusable aircraft if we're just gonna fly around in circles and burn more fuel? it seems like a lot of hype to me...
. it's like, we're literally talking about planes that can fly 5x faster than sound 
. and the fact that they're working with industry experts to make these aircraft reusable? game changer 
. spaceworks enterprises and stratolaunch of mojave are getting some serious funding 
, which will help them modify their platforms for enhanced capabilities.
. will we see commercial supersonic planes flying soon? 
it's all about pushing boundaries and innovating 
. i love that nasa is committing to working with commercial partners to make this happen 
. it's a win-win for everyone involved 
.
. Now we just need to see some actual progress 
. Five times the speed of sound sounds crazy fast 
, but if it works out, who knows what kinda benefits we'll get from airbreathing hypersonic tech? Maybe faster travel times or new industries that we can't even imagine yet 
Anyway, I'm not sure if it's just me, but it seems like we've been hearing about hypersonic flight for years now. Back in my day... err, I mean, in the early 2000s, we were already talking about making supersonic travel more efficient. It's cool to see NASA and these private companies working together to make it happen.
like, think of all the possibilities - faster travel times, more efficient aviation... it's mind blown! NASA is literally pushing boundaries here 
gotta respect their innovative approaches. Dr. Madavan's right, commercial partnerships r key 2 making this tech more feasible for widespread adoption 
. I think it's fantastic that they're partnering with industry experts to bring innovation to the table 
? also, why are these grants so limited in scope, $500k and $1.2m just seems like peanuts for a project of this magnitude... or maybe thats exactly what nasa is trying to achieve with these small-scale collaborations... 
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I'm all for pushing the boundaries of innovation, but shouldn't we be prioritizing people's lives over fancy technology first?
just read that NASA's getting $1.2M for Stratolaunch's Talon-A project 
did you know that spaceworks enterprises already has 3x the funding for their x-60 platform as stratolaunch? 
this tech could change everything for aviation and space travel, imagine flying from NYC to LA in under an hour without any of that boring security nonsense lol! the problem with current rockets is they're so expensive and limited in range, but if we can make these airbreathing hypersonic aircraft reusable then the sky's literally the limit 