Space Engine Systems announces development of a Mach 5 hypersonic vehicle
by CM Staff
The vehicle is undergoing full scale ground testing in preparation for flight testing this year.
The HAF test cell with Hello 1 Experimental spaceplane
EDMONTON — Space Engine Systems Inc. (SES) is currently building the HELLO-1 Experimental, a Mach 5 Hypersonic vehicle using Air Breathing Turbo-Ram jet engines. The vehicle is undergoing full scale ground testing in preparation for flight testing this year. The HELLO-1 X is piloted, with a remotely piloted option.
The biggest challenge to success in hypersonic flight, for both commerce and defence, is heat, according to Space Engine Systems Inc. A Full Scale Heated Wing Up Bending Testing of the entire vehicle is being prepared. It will reportedly exceed the hypersonic mission design profile loads by 135% under full heated condition and 150% at ambient condition with a ramp rate from 30 to 60 seconds. The cockpit will be pressurized during the testing, adding to the severe loads. The HAF test facility is a mobile test platform in critical areas. It will operate from ambient temperature up to 1,400 deg Celsius using heated air generated by modified single and multiple jet engines. It can move 80 kg/second of heated air or multiples of this as required while bending under full load.
The HELLO-1 X is 60 feet long and the air frame will be enclosed within the chamber subjecting the complete airframe to heat, simulating flight conditions. This will validate the structural thermal effects from the fluid thermal structure CFD modeling.
The vehicle is intended to be ready for flight testing this year; however, the company reports that there may be delay in getting approvals to be allowed to fly. They are focused on flight from one of the United States supersonic corridors subject to FAA and other regulatory approvals. However, the company reports that there are options in the UK and Canada are also being considered so that they can fly sooner.
The HAF mobile testing may be offered to other companies for hypersonic and other structural bending under heated conditions, matching various mission profiles.
