NASA is making significant strides in advancing hypersonic flight testing with two new awards aimed at streamlining the process and paving the way for a new era of high-speed aviation. By focusing on "airbreathing," reusable aircraft that harness the surrounding air to achieve hypersonic speeds, the agency is seeking innovative solutions from industry partners.
The Hypersonic Technology Project, which has garnered substantial commercial interest, seeks to develop more efficient methods for testing and developing these aircraft. The two contract awards, valued at $1.2 million and $500,000, will support a six-month study exploring how existing vehicles can be modified to meet the demands of reusable, high-cadence flight-testing.
SpaceWorks Enterprises of Atlanta, Georgia, and Stratolaunch of Mojave, California, have been selected to participate in the study, with SpaceWorks focusing on the X-60 platform and Stratolaunch examining its Talon-A platform. By collaborating with industry partners, NASA aims to identify new ways to evaluate technologies through flight tests while addressing challenges associated with reusable airbreathing hypersonic flight.
The project will also support a future Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics (MACH) project focused on advancing commercial hypersonic vehicles through the development of infrastructure such as cost estimates and schedule requirements for a potential flight vehicle. By working together, NASA and industry partners are poised to revolutionize fundamental airbreathing hypersonic technologies and enable groundbreaking advancements in the field.
The Hypersonic Technology Project, which has garnered substantial commercial interest, seeks to develop more efficient methods for testing and developing these aircraft. The two contract awards, valued at $1.2 million and $500,000, will support a six-month study exploring how existing vehicles can be modified to meet the demands of reusable, high-cadence flight-testing.
SpaceWorks Enterprises of Atlanta, Georgia, and Stratolaunch of Mojave, California, have been selected to participate in the study, with SpaceWorks focusing on the X-60 platform and Stratolaunch examining its Talon-A platform. By collaborating with industry partners, NASA aims to identify new ways to evaluate technologies through flight tests while addressing challenges associated with reusable airbreathing hypersonic flight.
The project will also support a future Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics (MACH) project focused on advancing commercial hypersonic vehicles through the development of infrastructure such as cost estimates and schedule requirements for a potential flight vehicle. By working together, NASA and industry partners are poised to revolutionize fundamental airbreathing hypersonic technologies and enable groundbreaking advancements in the field.
NASA is finally moving fast on this 
hypersonic tech! $1.2m & $500k isn't much but it's a start 
Hopefully they can figure out how to make these air-breathing aircraft more efficient before we're zipping around the globe in no time 
. I'm not saying it's not cool that SpaceWorks and Stratolaunch are in on this – those guys have some seriously innovative tech up their sleeves 
. But, can't we just fast track this thing already? I mean, who needs six months to figure out how to make these things work? 
It's like they're playing a game of "hypersonic roulette" – you gotta spin the wheel and see what happens 
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NASA's on a mission to push the boundaries of space travel and I love that they're partnering with industries to make it happen. The idea of reusable aircraft harnessing air to achieve hypersonic speeds is mind-blowing! 
We need more innovation like this ASAP, so the next gen can enjoy flying fast and efficient. Plus, $1.2 million and $500k for research? That's a sweet deal 
. Can't wait to see what breakthroughs come out of this project and hopefully soon we'll be soaring at Mach 5+ 
I'm so over this whole "innovating" thing NASA's doing 
. Like, can't they just replicate what SpaceX has been doing for years already? It feels like they're trying to reinvent the wheel instead of building on what's already proven. And $1.2 million isn't even a lot of money when you consider how much hype this whole hypersonic thing is getting 
This project is not just about advancing flight testing, it's about paving the way for a whole new era of high-speed travel. Can't wait to see what innovations come out of this collaboration 
NASA's on it, and now they're collaborating with industry partners to make it happen. It's all about streamlining the process and making reusable airbreathing aircraft a reality. I mean, can you even imagine soaring through the skies at Mach 5+ 
? The possibilities are endless!
. I'm all for innovation and progress, but can't we take a step back and evaluate what's really driving this obsession with hypersonic flight?
. Like, can you imagine flying from LA to NYC in like 30 minutes?! 
It's going to be a wild ride 
! SpaceWorks and Stratolaunch are gonna be low-key geniuses 
. Reusability is key to making hypersonic flight a reality 
. This project is all about pushing boundaries and making history 
. Can't wait to see what they come up with 
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. Imagine being able to travel faster and more efficiently than ever before – it's mind-blowing! 
Of course, there are gonna be challenges to overcome - safety concerns, cost, infrastructure... the works. But hey, that's what makes this project so exciting. The possibilities are endless, and I'm curious to see how it all plays out. Bring on the hypersonic revolution! 
). And having SpaceWorks Enterprises and Stratolaunch on board as partners is a huge win - those guys have some serious expertise under their belts 
It's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie (think "Star Trek" or "Iron Man" 
. Fingers crossed! 
those guys are already pushing boundaries in their own way 