For NASA's X-43 (Hyper-X) program, Orbital provided Pegasus-derivative rockets to boost small, unmanned research test vehicles to a specified altitude and velocity to demonstrate hypersonic (faster than Mach 5) scramjet propulsion technologies. While vehicles with conventional rocket engines carry oxygen on board, the air-breathing X-43 uses oxygen from the atmosphere. This type of propulsion system could potentially increase payload capacity of future launch vehicles and make hypersonic aircraft feasible.
Record Setting Flights
On November 16, 2004, a third X-43A flight demonstrated air-frame integrated scramjet performance at speeds approaching Mach 10, breaking records set on previous flights. During its March 27, 2004 flight, X-43A achieved speeds near Mach 7, earning it a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world speed record for a jet-powered aircraft. By comparison, the world's fastest air-breathing aircraft, the SR-71 "Blackbird" (the previous record holder) cruised at slightly above Mach 3. Hyper-X was launched from NASA’s B-52B aircraft off the coast of California. Once a predetermined altitude and velocity were achieved, the X-43A separated from the booster and flew under its own power.
Launch Vehicle Details
The Hyper-X Launch Vehicle shares some technology with its Pegasus space launch vehicle cousin. However, since the X-43 booster does not leave Earth's atmosphere, significant changes were made to the rocket to meet the unique requirements of Hyper-X. These included:
Special configuration of the Orion 50S solid rocket motor that normally serves as the first stage rocket motor of the Pegasus space launch vehicle
Elimination of the Pegasus second and third stages
Elimination of the payload fairing, which normally protects satellite payloads
Addition of a modified ballast/avionics module
Addition of a ballast assembly and a payload adapter
Newly developed thermal protection system to protect the booster's composite structures against the severe heating associated with hypersonic operations in the Earth's upper atmosphere
Key Partners
NASA Langley
Research Center (Hampton, VA) — Program management and research vehicle lead
NASA Dryden
Flight Research Center (Edwards, CA) — Flight research lead and contracting agency
Alliant Techsystems (Tullahoma, TN) — Research vehicle design and fabrication
Orbital (Chandler, AZ; Vandenberg AFB, CA; Dulles, VA) — Launch vehicle design and fabrication
