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Get ready to scram
The Hyshot III, a scramjet test vehicle, will be launched via a University of Queensland rocket tomorrow from Woomera. Scramjets (Supersonic Combustion Ramjets) use a fuel system which makes use of oxygen already passing through the engine; rather than an onboard supply. This reduced payload has obvious benefits - but unfortunately the engines only operate once a reasonable speed is achieved by other means (hence the rocket).
The rocket will take the test vehicle to the Mach 5 needed to operate. Once this speed is reached, the test vehicle will separate from the rocket and travel at up to Mach 7.6 before landing. That's over 9,000 km/h.
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See also:
- NASA plans a moonbase
- Future Mars astronauts have radiation on their minds
- Japan launches Solar-B
- Venus Express begins planetary orbit
- First Brazilian in space
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