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This volume from The NASA History Series presents an overview of the science of hypersonics, the study of flight at speeds at which the physics of flows is dominated by aerodynamic heating. The survey begins during the years immediately following World War II, with the first steps in hypersonic research: the development of missile nose cones and the X-15; the earliest concepts of hypersonic propulsion; and the origin of the scramjet engine. Next, it addresses the re-entry problem, which came to the forefront during the mid-1950s, showing how work in this area supported the manned space program and contributed to the development of the orbital shuttle. Subsequent chapters explore the fading of scramjet studies and the rise of the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) program of 1985-95, which sought to lay groundwork for single-stage vehicles. The program's ultimate shortcomings- in terms of aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials - are discussed, and the book concludes with a look at hypersonics in the post-NASP era, including the development of the X-33 and X-34 launch vehicles, further uses for scramjets, and advances in fluid mechanics. Clearly, ongoing research in hypersonics has yet to reach its full potential, and readers with an interest in aeronautics and astronautics will find this book a fascinating exploration of the field's history and future.

Aerodynamics, Hypersonic --- Research aircraft --- Research --- History --- Aerodynamics of hypersonic flight --- Hypersonic aerodynamics --- Hypersonic speeds --- Hypersonics --- Aerodynamics, Supersonic --- Mach number --- Sound pressure --- Aircraft, Experimental --- Aircraft, Research --- Experimental aircraft --- Airplanes

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With the Soviet Union's launch of the first Sputnik satellite in 1957, the Cold War soared to new heights as Americans feared losing the race into space. The X-15 Rocket Plane tells the enthralling yet little-known story of the hypersonic X-15, the winged rocket ship that met this challenge and opened the way into human-controlled spaceflight. Drawing on interviews with those who were there, Michelle Evans captures the drama and excitement of, yes, rocket science: how to handle the heat generated at speeds up to Mach 7, how to make a rocket propulsion system that could throttle, and how to s

Aerodynamics, Hypersonic --- Research aircraft --- X-15 (Rocket aircraft) --- North American X-15 (Rocket aircraft) --- Astronautics --- Manned space flight --- North American airplanes (Military aircraft) --- Rocket planes --- Winged spacecraft --- Aircraft, Experimental --- Aircraft, Research --- Experimental aircraft --- Airplanes --- Aerodynamics of hypersonic flight --- Hypersonic aerodynamics --- Hypersonic speeds --- Hypersonics --- Aerodynamics, Supersonic --- Mach number --- Sound pressure --- Research --- History.