HyShot scramjet program on track

Yesterday’s unsuccessful Japanese aeronautical experiment at Woomera is unlikely to cause delays to the international HyShot program to test a scramjet in flight for the first time in the world.

HyShot program leader Dr Allan Paull of The University of Queensland’s Centre for Hypersonics said his research team had been informed that recent events would not affect the scramjet testing schedule.

“We hope to conduct our experiment on July 30 at the Department of Defence’s Woomera Prohibited Area, 500 kilometres north of Adelaide,” he said.

The Royal Australian Air Force’s Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) is assisting the Hyshot Project Team.

The rocket launch will be conducted from a launch pad about 1km from the Aircraft Research and Development Unit’s Instrumented Building at Woomera Prohibited Range.

Scramjets are air-breathing supersonic combustion ramjet engines which could revolutionise the launch of small space payloads such as communication satellites by substantially lowering costs.

The HyShot program has helped establish Australia at the forefront of hypersonic technological research.

HyShot team members leave this week for Woomera to finesse their experimental campaign in preparation for the launch.

Media: Further information, Dr Allan Paull email: allan@mech.uq.edu.au, International program coordinator Dr Susan Anderson telephone 0402 091365 or Jan King at UQ Communications 07 3365 1120.