Hey @TelegraphNews the correct answer to your poll is "none of the above" because hypersonic speed isn't defined by Mach number, it's about changes in flow chemistry, heating, thin shock/entropy layers, etc.
@TelegraphNews One of my favorite graphics summarizing what truly defines hypersonic flow, from J. Anderson's "Hypersonic and high-temperature gas dynamics"
Hypersonics is definitely having a moment as part of the zeitgeist (seems to happen once or twice a year), but for everyone reporting on this stuff I wish the opening chapter to the Anderson hypersonic text were required reading
It's not too technical and is so informative
For starters, maybe people would learn that the first hypersonic flight was the Bumper rocket in 1949
Plus, you get historical context for a variety of hypersonic vehicle concepts of yore (I see you Dynasoar!)
And circling back to the misinformed @TelegraphNews poll, you get your answer to the question "What is hypersonic flow?"
Answer: it depends, but you shouldn't just rely on Mach number
@TelegraphNews So, all you technical writers out there that are writing articles on hypersonics this week: do yourself a favor and buy a copy of Anderson's seminal hypersonic text from @aiaaarc.aiaa.org/doi/book/10.25…
I'm relieved to see that the responses to the poll are echoing the sentiments of Phil Roe
(sorry I begrudgingly picked M5 just to see the results)
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Aside from the fact that you can't just wave a wand and get to Mars in 3 years (there's only one more launch window between now and then: Q4 2026)
You simply CANNOT close NASA Ames
That site has a concentration of some of the most in-demand test infrastructure in the world. Stuff we (sadly) will probably never build again. Would set US defense and space testing capability back decades just to score some political points (California BAD! NASA engineers LAZY!)
Take for example the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Wind Tunnel Complex
Comprised of the two largest wind tunnels in the world. Basically the only places you can test aircraft at full scale
40 ft x 80 ft and 80 ft x 120 ft wind tunnels. Absolutely INSANE
There's the arc jet complex
This is really the best way we have to test thermal protection materials for space and defense applications
Wanna go to Mars? You need these
There are fewer than 10 high-throughput arc jets in the US. Ames has 4
So, if I understand correctly, it sounds like GE has successfully tested a turbine-based combined-cycle engine that incorporates: 1) gas turbine; 2) rotating detonation engine; 3) ramjet; 4) scramjet 🤯
As we approach what may be a historic Starship flight test, this Reuters report is really, really bad
No excuses: as arguably the number one launch provider *in the world* the safety culture at SpaceX has to be better. They should be setting the standard (in a good way)
If we are going to continue giving them billions annually in taxpayer dollars, they can’t keep treating workers like disposable meat puppets
And yes before you ask these numbers are much worse than industry averages
This is an absolutely total systematic failure that goes beyond SpaceX—NASA has some explaining to do about how they allowed SpaceX to operate in their own backyard allowing a > 20% injury rate
If you're ever frustrated by someone with a PhD acting like a know-it-all outside their niche field of study, just remember that Albert Einstein tried to design an airfoil but it performed so poorly during testing it's flight characteristics were compared to a "pregnant duck"
HT to @milan_tomicc for reminding me of this the other day
For a bit more technical insight, bottom line is that Einstein designed this entirely using Bernoulli theory.
Stall at 12deg AoA @ 92 L/D
He later confessed he was "ashamed" and "this is what can happen to a man that thinks a lot but reads little"
Am I being unreasonable in thinking that "clearing the launch pad" (that everyone knew would be destroyed) is a bit of a low bar for arguably the most successful launch company *ever*?
There are tons of insanely smart, hard-working, talented people there
NASA needs Starship to put boots on the moon
So I expect more than what we got yesterday
When some brand new startup or a university rocket club sends their rocket into a death spiral at T+4min we all pat them on the back and say "space is hard" and "you'll figure it out"
I hold SpaceX (and NASA) to a much higher standard. SpaceX is better than this. It wasn't ready