Topic: X-51A to go for Mach 6

[Libertas]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hypersonic-revolution-20120813,0,4998122.story

Too bad it is unmanned...what's the fun of going that fast if there is no one in the cockpit to enjoy it?

Technology...sometimes it is a buzzkill.

[Libertas]

Well, that didn't last long...

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/15/usa-hypersonic-flight-idUSL2E8JFBYF20120815

A faulty fin...

Damn, is any American working on this project?

 

[benb61]

I work on the opposite side of the building from the design team for the X-51.  There are no foreign persons on that program (all US citizens).  In the engineering world you attempt to make your design as robust as possible but sometimes there are flaws in the manufacturing process.  Remember we have flown the X-51 (not this vehicle since the flights are terminated prior to contact with the ground, landing gear is expensive and heavy) twice before successfully.  Even though I work at Boeing we still are not too sure what the actual cause of the terminated flight was.

[Libertas]

Just joking about the foreigners...fin/Finn...OK maybe only I found that funny...   

Things can and do go wrong, but with all the complexity involved...a fin...I guess something can always get missed.

More lessons learned to put into quality control.

I was looking forward to seeing how that engine did.  Next time.

[charlesoakwood]

Faster rockets.  You too, may appreciate the joy of faster rockets,
they may fly from here to there or right up Achmed or Vlad's snoot
before their little red light glows.  I like it.