Australia's Hypersonic Jet May Fly Again in December
By: Gregor Ferguson Special to Space News
Australian researchers could make a second attempt to fly a supersonic combustion ramjet engine in December, authorities here said. An initial attempt ended in failure Oct. 30 due to problems with the booster that carried the experimental engine aloft for the planned high-speed test.
The original test engine, built by researchers at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, and known in aerospace circles as a scramjet,
never ignited and was destroyed on impact with the ground. A second flight attempt previously had been scheduled to take place about a week
after the first.
Officials with Australia’s Space Licensing and Safety launch are investigating the failure, according to Michael Green, acting director
of the organization, based in Canberra. Officials have theories as to the cause, but a preliminary report is not expected until Nov. 20, and a second flight attempt will not be authorized before then, Green said in an interview.
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