Hypersonic Technology Project
NASA is working to enable routine, reusable, airbreathing hypersonic flight by conducting fundamental and applied research to enable a broad spectrum of hypersonic systems and missions.
How fast is hypersonic?
Mach 5 and above.
how fast is mach 5?
Roughly 3,800 mph.
hypersonic history
X-15 reached Mach 6.7
more hypersonic history
X-43 reached Mach 9.6
Boundary Layer Turbulence 2 Flight
A two-stage suborbital sounding rocket launched in March 2022 to study boundary layer transition, turbulent heating, and drag on vehicles flying at hypersonic conditions.
Learn More About Test Flight about Boundary Layer Turbulence 2 Flight
Research Topic Areas
The Hypersonic Technology (HT) Project organizes its work into distinct research topic areas.
HT explores four key topics in hypersonics: system-level design, analysis, and validation; propulsion technologies, vehicles technologies; and high-temperature, durable materials.
Read More About Hypersonic Research Topic Areas
Technical Challenges
The Hypersonic Technology project works toward accomplishing specific technical challenges.
Hypersonic Technology works on turbine-based combined cycle propulsion mode testing, as well as development of improved combustor scaling laws for dual-mode ramjets. The project recently completed a method of system-level uncertainty quantification and a means of validating it.
Read More About Hypersonic Technical Challenges
Contact the Hypersonic Project by email at larc-htp-inquiries@mail.nasa.gov
