High Speed and Hypersonic Science and Technology

Abstract

Throughout modern history, aviation and, most recently, space have been pivotal to this nation’s ability to defend freedom and democracy. Over the years our foundational science and technology efforts have focused upon building strong aeronautics and space capability independently. In the fall of 2001, after the Secretary of Defense’s call for transformation, the defense research and engineering community sought to develop a science and technology initiative that would effectively integrate air and space technologies to build strike, space launch, and persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities second-to-none. This effort, the National Aerospace Initiative, focused technology development in three synergistic pillars: High-Speed / Hypersonics, Space Access, and Space Technology. The pillars work together to enable long-range time-critical strike, ondemand space launch using a combination of rocket and air-breathing propulsion, and responsive space payload capability. This paper summarizes the technology development approach, operational concepts, goals, and payoffs used in developing the High-Speed / Hypersonic science and technology plan.