I agree. My reading of this is that the engine is something analogous to the air breathing motor on the MDBA Meteor.
Chinese Hypersonic Developments (HGVs/HCMs)
- Thread starter A.Man
- Start date
Concept for Chinese hypersonic SAM from a decade ago.
I really cannot wait until hypersonic technology has advanced to the point where manned flight becomes possible (I don't mean rocket planes or space shuttles). Hopefully we get to see something within the next decade!
Looking at history, every attempt at making a supersonic passenger plane ended up in financial failure. All the investors "Lost their shirts". Hypersonic technology will probably end up the same.
Yesterday’s soft splash down of SpaceX Starship was a great opportunity to observe how a hypersonic vehicle could continue to guide itself on target despite the plasma envelope blocking organic sensors from forward observation.
SpaceX used Starlink satellites to provide a livestream from onboard cameras that showcased the beautiful plasma envelope as the vehicle descended at hypersonic speed through the atmosphere. The same principle could be used to command guide a HGV onto target using cooperative engagement principles.
SpaceX used Starlink satellites to provide a livestream from onboard cameras that showcased the beautiful plasma envelope as the vehicle descended at hypersonic speed through the atmosphere. The same principle could be used to command guide a HGV onto target using cooperative engagement principles.
This problem was solved by China as far back as the DF21D no? Hence why they are guided missiles with CEC despite having plasma sheath.
Plasma sheathing is not an issue to a hypersonic vehicle when a suitable array is available and in position to communicate through the space side of the vehicle. In fact, PLA scientists think Beidou's SMS function is sufficient for guidance.
In March 2005 there was a flight test of a Trident II D5 MARV. The admiral involved in the test claimed "I had GPS signal all the way down and could steer it.” p.40 here:
Now this is a different sort of test but you get the idea.
There are still a couple of hard problems to solve (see 2021 FOBS test accuracy for reference), namely how to make a terminal guidance system that can survive being destroyed by atmospheric ablation just long enough while retaining sufficient precision of control to hit the target with the sort of CEP values that enables prompt global strike. It is an exotic materials science problem.
Once again a SpaceX invented everything hype.
Remember the columbia disaster footage from inside the cabin where plasma can be seen through the window? Space shuttle did it 40 years ago, antenna on the back. It didn't get the kind of SpaceX fever because there was no social media back then.
Spacecraft is not necessarily envoloped inside plasma sheath. Specially designed shape and larger size will create a hole on its back. It is however much much more difficult to do the same to space capsule or ballistic missile warhead due to their smaller size. It is relatively easier to do it to HGV because their flight profile creates less thermal load compared to ballistic warhead.
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