The second Boeing X-51A Waverider, set for a yesterday launch attempt, includes modifications designed to eliminate the problems that prevented the first prototype from achieving its goal of 300s of powered flight at Mach 6 last year May.
Although highly successful compared with the previous record of 12s for hypersonic flight by a hydrocarbon-fuelled scramjet, range safety officials terminated the X-51A flight because of a loss of telemetry after 143s of powered flight.
Though this is not the actual problem,the x-51 faced the problem with the thrust of airframe!!
Investigations were carried out by USAF, Pratt & Whitney and Boeing after the mission revealed a problem with the interface between the scramjet engine and the airframe, which reduced thrust at the vehicle level.
Now the Changes to the thermal seal between the engine and airframe have been made on the remaining vehicles.
The 22 March launch will feature the same parameters as the first.This includes a boost to 70,000ft (21,350m) by an Army Tactical Missile solid rocket booster engine after an air drop by a Boeing B-52H flying at 49,500. The scramjet uses an ethylene mix for ignition and JP-7 fuel for the 300s burn.
Although highly successful compared with the previous record of 12s for hypersonic flight by a hydrocarbon-fuelled scramjet, range safety officials terminated the X-51A flight because of a loss of telemetry after 143s of powered flight.
Though this is not the actual problem,the x-51 faced the problem with the thrust of airframe!!
Investigations were carried out by USAF, Pratt & Whitney and Boeing after the mission revealed a problem with the interface between the scramjet engine and the airframe, which reduced thrust at the vehicle level.
Now the Changes to the thermal seal between the engine and airframe have been made on the remaining vehicles.
The 22 March launch will feature the same parameters as the first.This includes a boost to 70,000ft (21,350m) by an Army Tactical Missile solid rocket booster engine after an air drop by a Boeing B-52H flying at 49,500. The scramjet uses an ethylene mix for ignition and JP-7 fuel for the 300s burn.
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