NASA-Backed Hypersonic Jets Poised to Transform Space Travel

Wind Tunnel Study Reveals Hypersonic Jet Engine Flow Can Be Controlled Optically
Researchers at the University of Virginia are exploring the potential of hypersonic jets for space travel, using innovations in engine control and sensing techniques. The work, supported by NASA, aims to enhance scramjet performance through adaptive control systems and optical sensors, potentially leading to safer, more efficient space access vehicles that function like aircraft.

The Future of Space Travel: Hypersonic Jets
What if the future of space travel were to look less like Space-X’s rocket-based Starship and more like NASA’s “Hyper-X,” the hypersonic jet plane that, 20 years ago this year, flew faster than any other aircraft before or since?