hypersonics
Extreme velocity aerodynamics
Hypersonics is the field concerned with flight at hypersonic speeds—typically five times the speed of sound or faster.
At these velocities, air behaves differently: molecules break apart, metals glow, and conventional aerodynamics no longer apply.
The term appears most often in military contexts, where hypersonic missiles and glide vehicles represent cutting-edge weapons technology: The Pentagon is investing heavily in hypersonics.
Supersonic-combustion ramjet
- ramjetVelocity-fed aircraft engine
- waveriderOne who rides swells
- reentryComing back in
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
propulsion · wind tunnel · flight test · atmosphere · orbit · thermal protection · heat shield · boundary layer
Propagating pressure disturbance
- thermodynamicsScience of heat-energy relationships
- fluid dynamicsScience of flowing matter
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- heat transferMovement of thermal energy
pressure wave · plasma · ionization · boundary layer · turbulence · entropy · dissociation · convection
Five times sound's velocity
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- transonicNear sound-speed velocity
- momentumProduct of mass, velocity
trajectory · ballistics · drag · thrust · airflow · turbulence · shockwave · compression
Self-guided airborne weapon
- interceptorAircraft that intercepts threats
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
tactical · strategic · defense · precision · kinetic · arsenal · countermeasure · deployment
scramjet
Supersonic-combustion ramjet
spacecraft · propulsion · wind tunnel · flight test · atmosphere · orbit · thermal protection · heat shield · boundary layer · materials science
shockwave
Propagating pressure disturbance
- thermodynamicsScience of heat-energy relationships
- fluid dynamicsScience of flowing matter
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
heat transfer · pressure wave · plasma · ionization · boundary layer · turbulence · entropy · dissociation · convection · radiation
Mach 5
Five times sound's velocity
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
- transonicNear sound-speed velocity
momentum · trajectory · ballistics · drag · thrust · airflow · turbulence · shockwave · compression · dynamics
missile
Self-guided airborne weapon
- interceptorAircraft that intercepts threats
- deterrencePrevention via threatened consequences
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
warfare · tactical · strategic · defense · precision · kinetic · arsenal · countermeasure · deployment · threat
- aerospaceairplane, helicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft
- weaponsknife, gun, sword, swords, rifle
- defense researchDARPA, defense research, weapons labs, military research, weapons testing
- military technologymissiles, drones, radar systems, stealth technology, weapon systems
- DARPAARPANET, TCP/IP, stealth technology, cybersecurity, unmanned vehicles
- military aviationaircraft, bombers, fighter jets, stealth, drones
hypersonicsincompressible flow
Fluid motion with constant density
subsonic · stationary · supersonic · statics · transonic
hypersonicsstatics
Mechanics of equilibrium
stationary · motionlessness · stillness · rest · immobility
- hypersonic missileWeapon exceeding Mach five
- hypersonic weaponsMissiles exceeding Mach five
- hypersonic flightTravel above Mach five