Experimental rocket HiFiRE 5B was launched from the Woomera Test Range in South Australia, achieved the targeted speed of Mach 7.5 (seven and a half times the speed of sound, approximately 9200 km/h) and reached a height of 278 kilometres from Earth. Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation Program (HIFiRE) is investigating flight at more than Mach 5, the results will be applied to develop advanced air-breathing hypersonic propulsion engines known as supersonic combustion ramjets (scramjets). HIFiRE partners include the University of Queensland, Boeing, BAE Systems and DLR (German Aerospace Center).
Credit:
Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence
