{"id":14984,"date":"2026-01-30T18:13:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T22:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/nasa-aims-to-advance-hypersonic-flight-testing-with-new-awards\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T18:13:52","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T22:13:52","slug":"nasa-aims-to-advance-hypersonic-flight-testing-with-new-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zobi.alcowep.com\/bourtagshdrevxnls658739\/nasa-aims-to-advance-hypersonic-flight-testing-with-new-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Aims to Advance Hypersonic Flight Testing with New Awards\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

NASA Aims to Advance Hypersonic Flight Testing with New Awards\u00a0<\/h2>\n

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3 min read<\/p>\n

Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The NASA award to\u00a0SpaceWorks\u00a0Enterprises will focus on research using the company\u2019s\u00a0X-60 platform.\u00a0<\/div>\n
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While NASA is working with U.S. aviation to explore commercial supersonic technologies, the agency is also looking forward to an even faster era of flight \u2013 one of vehicles that can fly hypersonic, or five times the speed of sound. And to further that vision, NASA has issued two awards for studies into vehicle concepts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some types of vehicles \u2013 such as rockets \u2013\u00a0achieve hypersonic speeds\u00a0by carrying supplies of oxygen to allow their fuel\u00a0to burn, instead of using\u00a0the surrounding air. In contrast,\u00a0NASA\u2019s Hypersonic Technology Project\u00a0works\u00a0to advance \u201cairbreathing,\u201d reusable hypersonic\u00a0aircraft, which\u00a0take in air\u00a0as they fly,\u00a0allowing for\u00a0much longer\u00a0sustained cruising at hypersonic speeds.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Given commercial interest in finding applications for airbreathing hypersonic vehicles, the Hypersonic Technology Project is looking to find ways to make testing and development easier. Two contract awards\u00a0the project\u00a0made in August\u00a0are aimed at\u00a0helping to provide\u00a0an affordable bridge between hypersonic ground and flight tests.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWith these awards, NASA will collaborate with the commercial\u00a0hypersonics\u00a0industry to\u00a0identify\u00a0new ways to\u00a0evaluate\u00a0technologies\u00a0through flight tests\u00a0while\u00a0we\u00a0address the challenges of\u00a0reusable, routine, airbreathing, hypersonic flight,\u201d said\u00a0Dr.\u00a0Nateri\u00a0Madavan, director of NASA\u2019s\u00a0Advanced Air Vehicles Program.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The new awards went to\u00a0SpaceWorks\u00a0Enterprises, of Atlanta, Georgia, and\u00a0Stratolaunch\u00a0of Mojave, California, both of which will support a six-month NASA study exploring how current vehicles could be\u00a0modified\u00a0to meet the need for\u00a0reusable,\u00a0high-cadence,\u00a0affordable flight-testing capabilities.\u00a0SpaceWorks, which received $500,000,\u00a0will focus on\u00a0the\u00a0X-60\u00a0platform.\u00a0Stratolaunch, which received $1.2 million, will focus on\u00a0its Talon-A platform.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Through these awards, NASA wants industry to help define the capabilities needed to achieve flight test requirements. The work will also potentially support a future NASA Making Advancements in Commercial Hypersonics (MACH) project\u00a0focused on advancing commercial hypersonic vehicles through the development of infrastructure such as cost estimates and schedule requirements for a potential flight vehicle.<\/p>\n

NASA\u00a0advances U.S. hypersonic research\u00a0through the\u00a0Hypersonic Technology Project\u00a0under the agency\u2019s Advanced Air Vehicles\u00a0Program. NASA intends for these projects to help lead the way in\u00a0enabling revolutionary advancements in fundamental airbreathing\u00a0hypersonic technologies.<\/p>\n

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