scramjet
Supersonic combustion engine
A scramjet is a jet engine designed to operate at hypersonic speeds—typically above Mach 5.
Unlike conventional jet engines, a scramjet has no moving parts; it relies on the vehicle's extreme forward velocity to compress incoming air for combustion.
The air passes through the engine at supersonic speeds throughout, distinguishing it from a ramjet, where airflow slows to subsonic before burning.
Scramjets cannot function at low speeds and must be accelerated by other means before they can take over: The missile used a rocket booster before the scramjet ignited.
Exothermic reaction with oxygen
- supersonicExceeding audio velocity
- hypersonicFaster than Mach five
- thrustForceful forward motion
- nozzleFlow-directing pipe fitting
inlet · compression · ignition · hydrogen · fuel · shockwave · boundary layer · thermodynamics
Faster than Mach five
- machAirspeed-to-soundspeed ratio
- supersonicExceeding audio velocity
- velocityDirected rate of motion
- accelerationRate velocity changes
breakneck · rapid · swift · meteoric · blazing · record-breaking
Travel above Mach five
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
- reentryComing back in
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
- waveriderOne who rides swells
flight envelope · thermal protection · aerodynamics · compressibility · high altitude · test flight · experimental · military
Sudden important advance
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- experimentalTesting new methods
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
advancement · research · development · prototype · futuristic · next-generation · technology · engineering
combustion
Exothermic reaction with oxygen
- supersonicExceeding audio velocity
- hypersonicFaster than Mach five
- thrustForceful forward motion
nozzle · inlet · compression · ignition · hydrogen · fuel · shockwave · boundary layer · thermodynamics · fuel efficiency
hypersonic
Faster than Mach five
- machAirspeed-to-soundspeed ratio
- supersonicExceeding audio velocity
- velocityDirected rate of motion
acceleration · breakneck · rapid · swift · meteoric · blazing · record-breaking
hypersonic flight
Travel above Mach five
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
- reentryComing back in
- atmosphereGaseous layer around planets
waverider · flight envelope · thermal protection · aerodynamics · compressibility · high altitude · test flight · experimental · military · defense
breakthrough
Sudden important advance
- cutting-edgeAt innovation's forefront
- experimentalTesting new methods
- pioneeringFirst to explore territory
revolutionary · advancement · research · development · prototype · futuristic · next-generation · technology · engineering · testing
- aerospaceairplane, helicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft
- enginesdiesel engine, gasoline engine, car engine, truck engine, piston engine
- propulsionjet, rocket, thrusting, jets, rockets
- aviation innovationjet engine, autopilot, radar, GPS, black box
- Experimental AircraftX-15, X-plane, X-planes, demonstrator, proof of concept
- flying vehiclesflying car, airship, shuttle, VTOL, tiltrotor
scramjetramjet
Velocity-fed aircraft engine
rocket engine · turbofan · turbojet · piston engine · propeller