The concept of hypersonic flight is not a new one. NASA has been building a hypersonic research program dating back to the 1950's. The new effort takes advantage of resources and manufacturing capabilities unavailable 30 years ago. Within the next two decades hypersonic vehicles will routinely fly about 100,000 feet above Earth's surface and reach sustained travel speeds in excess of Mach 5 or about 3,750 mph. This is the point at which supersonic flight becomes hypersonic. The next generation of vehicles is powered by air-breathing rocket -or turbine-based engines and ram/scramjets. In addition to expanding U.S. defense capabilities, hypersonic technologies will revolutionize the way we gain access to space. The technology opens limitless possibilities for international travel and commerce.


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