In aerodynamics, hypersonic speed refers to speeds much faster than the speed of sound, usually more than approximately Mach 5. [1][2]

Apr 3, 2025 · NASA is working to enable routine, reusable, airbreathing hypersonic flight by conducting fundamental and applied research to enable a broad spectrum of hypersonic systems and missions.

Jul 22, 2025 · The United States has actively pursued hypersonic weapons — maneuvering systems that can travel at speeds of Mach 5 and greater — since the early 2000s.

We are developing game-changing hypersonic solutions to ensure our customers are always ready for what’s ahead. Traveling at Mach 5 (or a mile a second) and above is the new standard on the …

Sep 27, 2023 · Hypersonic speed is five times the speed of sound. Scientists measure speeds this fast with a Mach number, named for Austrian physicist Ernst Mach. Sound has a speed of Mach 1 and …

From boost-glide vehicles to scramjet-powered cruise missiles, this article explores the extreme physics of hypersonic flight, the advanced materials that make it possible, and the global arms race pushing …

1 day ago · The Army’s Dark Eagle, also known as the Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), is a trailer-launched hypersonic boost-glide vehicle system that can travel long distances at hypersonic …

Hypersonic flight involves traveling at speeds greater than Mach 5, revolutionizing air travel and defense with rapid, high-altitude capabilities.

Hypersonic flight is generally defined as speeds at or beyond Mach 5. However, unlike what happens as the aircraft approaches Mach 1, there are no distinctive changes in the flow characteristics as an …

In April 1961, Russian Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel at hypersonic speed, during the world's first piloted orbital flight.