Science and Technology Challenges

Abstract

This chapter summarizes important scientific and technological challenges related to future research and development for hypersonic vehicles. The summary is based on conclusions that have been identified in the individual chapters of the Science and Technology Annex to this report. For hypersonic flight speeds, i.e., equal to or greater than five times the speed of sound (Mach > 5), aerothermal effects in the air flow around the vehicle become more and more important; aerodynamics changes to aerothermodynamics. This has important effects on parameters in the vehicle design such as structural loads, heat loads, signature, controllability or others. Resulting design requirements as well as the integration of hypersonic weapon systems in current architectures poses challenges beyond traditional platform perspectives.