Important Innovations

Supersonic Flights Across the Earth Source:  Virgin Galactic Flying Public at Supersonic Speeds NASA is teaming up with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic space company to develop high speed technologies for supersonic air travel.  The purpose is to make high Mach speed vehicles for the travelling public here on Earth to get from "Point-to-Point" in vastly reduced times.  NASA and Branson have finalized their collaboration by signing a Space Act Agreement.  Vision and Goal Branson's vision for transporting the public at Mach speeds is a "global network of spaceports, transcontinental supersonic space flights and delivering passengers anywhere in the world in a couple of hours".  To achieve this, the aircraft will actually be a spacecraft. Technological First The envisioned SST would be a spacecraft that would launch into space from its departure point, then re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and arrive at the destination point for landing

The Tempest at Mach 5 Plus Source: Raytheon hypersonic missile concept Source : UK Air Show Concept of Tempest Fighter Jet UK Joins Global Hypersonic Arms Race Britain just announced that it's developing a hypersonic missile, The Tempest, capable of reaching Moscow in 24 minutes. The distance between the UK and Moscow is 1500 miles.  The Tempest will travel at speeds in excess of Mach 5, which is 3,836 mph.  The Royal Air Force is leading the project and just announced partners in the development of the hypersonic propulsion system include Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Reaction Engines.  They've been given 10 million pounds to research, design and develop the high Mach advanced propulsion system on a very fast track. Britain vows to be a leader in hypersonic technology and wants hypersonic capabilities to defend itself. Highly Advanced Hypersonic Weapon The Tempest will be fitted with laser and hypersonic weapons.  And it will be able to fly unmanned.  The Temp

US Company Building Supersonic Jets for Mainstream Travel Source:  Boom Artist Concept Boom and the Supersonic Jet Race The supersonic jet travel race is getting hot.  There are a number of global, startups building jets that fly faster than the speed of sound or 767 mph.  Some companies are targeting 1000 mph and even 3000 mph.  Hermeus, based in Atlanta, GA, is targeting Mach 3 or 3000 mph.  That would take you from New York to London in just 90 minutes.  Another company of note is Boom. Supersonic Flights for All of Us A very interesting supersonic play comes from Boom Technology, which is Denver, CO based and has significant capital behind it.  It is focusing on building 55-seat passenger jets that fly at Mach 2 plus or 2300 mph.  It wants to start pricing seats, when it gets ready for takeoff in upcoming years, at the rate of business class fares.  Additionally, it plans to sell its supersonic jets to traditional airlines and help reduce those business class prices into