High-Speed Aerospace Vehicle Capable of Traveling from London to New York City in One Hour
The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced a new research program called Invictus, with the goal of developing a hypersonic space plane capable of Mach 5 (3,386 mph). The British company leading this ambitious project is Frazer-Nash Consultancy from Dorking.
The Invictus space plane, if successful, could help unlock the next generation of space planes. It will incorporate the "pre-cooler" technology from Reaction's SABRE engine, a combination of jet and rocket propulsion. This pre-cooler technology chills superheated air in a fraction of a second, allowing aircraft engines to travel at hypersonic speeds.
U.S. companies Sierra Space Corp., Dawn Aerospace, and Radian Aerospace have also joined the race, introducing their own versions of a space plane that takes off like a plane and soars like a rocket. If plans stay on track, the Invictus space plane could be operational by 2031, with the U.S. Air Force operating a similar robotic orbital space plane called the X-37B, while China has a similar aircraft called Shelong.
Meanwhile, Virgin Galactic plans to introduce the Delta version of its space plane. The Invictus team aims to have a viable concept ready within 12 months. Michael Verdon, the Aviation and Marine Editor for the website, has written about boats for 30 years and edited five national boating magazines, providing insightful coverage on this exciting development.
The Invictus aircraft will use technology developed by Reaction Engines Ltd., a private firm that previously designed a space plane called Skylon. The company's expertise in hypersonic flight will be crucial in achieving the Invictus project's ambitious goals.
As the race for hypersonic space travel heats up, the Invictus project promises to push the boundaries of what is possible. With Frazer-Nash Consultancy at the helm, we can expect to see significant advancements in the realm of hypersonic aviation in the coming years.
