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Aussie Scramjet Aims for 12x Sound Speed
14 Feb
Summary
- Hypersonix Launch Systems to test scramjet technology.
- Engine achieves speeds up to 12 times the speed of sound.
- Launch window set for later this month from NASA facility.

Hypersonix Launch Systems, a Brisbane-based company with roots in the University of Queensland's Centre for Hypersonics, is preparing for a significant suborbital launch. The company has engineered a novel scramjet engine that operates without moving parts and is capable of propelling vehicles to speeds up to 12 times the speed of sound.
The crucial test flight is scheduled for a launch window later this month. The Dart AE vehicle will ascend 50 kilometers into the atmosphere from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. This demonstration aims to showcase the technology's capabilities to the United States' Defence Innovation Unit, which previously selected Hypersonix from a competitive field of over 60 companies.
The successful execution of this test could mark a major advancement in hypersonics technology, with potential applications in defense and aerospace. The company's progress highlights Australian innovation in advanced propulsion systems.




