X-51 Crashed

[smdw912]

Here is a video of a successful X-51 flight, but neither test flight has been full throttled.... mach 6 [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc4HR4VdQmk"]B-52 Takeoff/X-51 Launch - YouTube[/nomedia]

A statement from a spokesmen of the WaveRide project stated that the test had been conducted but, no other results are being released. No wonder they didn't want to release any results right away! It crash right into the Pacific Ocean. On release the WaveRider dropped from the B-52,fell like a bomb, and then the rocket booster kicked in. After the X-51 was boosted into enough speed to use the scramjet the two would separate. This never happen though, even before the scramjet could be used a controlled surface malfunctioned and the X-51 was doomed and plummeted in the ocean. This was the third test flight of the WaveRider, not one of these test have produced results that the the X-51 has been hype up to be. Third time is not the charm, however their is one more WaveRider prototype available for testing but it has not been determined if they are going to use it.

 

[gf0012-aust]

This was the third test flight of the WaveRider, not one of these test have produced results that the the X-51 has been hype up to be. Third time is not the charm, however their is one more WaveRider prototype available for testing but it has not been determined if they are going to use it.

The other US hypersonic programs have been working (eg NASA-QIT)- so its not a reflection on US hypersonic developments

 

[NobodyMinus]

The X-51 isn't really about demonstrating hypersonic weapons capability, it's about developing scramjet technology.

We've had weapons that travel at hypersonic speeds since the 50's. ICBMs and theatre ballistic missiles all travel at hypersonic speeds. In addition, we demonstrated the AHW in 2011, we've demonstrated our ability to create in atmosphere long range hypersonic glide vehicles. even in the realm of short range (relatively) weapons, PAC-III and THAAD both travel at hypersonic speeds, and if I remember correctly the standard missile series does as well.

The X-51 is about developing a way to reach the hypersonic realm that does not rely on rocket propulsion. The scramjet has a large number of advantages over the rocket, the primary being that it does not require an oxidizer and therefore requires much less fuel. This makes it much cheaper (When being discussed in the context of orbital delivery vehicles or long-range strategic missiles), difficult to mistake for an ICBM launch (one of the political controversies PGS is running into), and a suitable candidate for recoverable hypersonic flight vehicles that could be used cheaply and repeatedly.

And in that regard the X-51 failures are a major disappointment. Scramjet technology has been in development since the early 80's and still hasn't produced any useful results. If that doesn't depress you I don't know what will.