Hypersonic Technology: Bridging the Gap Between Space and Earth Transport
The idea of travelling halfway around the world in the time it takes to watch a movie has fascinated people for decades. For a long time, it sounded like something only science fiction could promise. Now, advances in hypersonic technology are bringing it within reach, creating a bridge between what we know from space travel and what could soon become everyday transport here on Earth. Understanding Hypersonic Speeds When engineers talk about “hypersonic,” they mean speeds starting from Mach 5—over 6,000 kilometres an hour. At that pace, a flight from Mumbai to London could be done in less than three hours. The appeal is obvious: quicker travel for people, lightning-fast cargo delivery, and entirely new possibilities for both business and leisure. But speed isn’t the only challenge. At these velocities, air friction heats a vehicle’s surface to extreme levels, control systems face intense pressure, and engines need to function in thin, fast-moving air. The solutions demand a combi...