1. NASA Hypersonic Research
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA Hypersonic Research
Jay Dryer
Program Director
US Hypersonics Industry Team 1st Annual Exhibition
May 24, 2011 – Washington DC

2. Hypersonics Project Goal
Develop tools, technologies and knowledge to enable airbreathing access to space and large-mass entry into planetary atmospheres
NASA Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) Reference Vehicle
Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Concept
NASA Human Mars Lander Concept

3. Hypersonic Airbreathing Technology Roadmap
Vehicle Scale 1X
10X
100X
User
DoD
Commercial
NASA
Application
Weapon
DoD-ISR, Strike
Commercial Cruise
Access to
Space
Year Technology
Achieves TRL 6
2020
2030
2040
Long-term, sustained commitment required to achieve airbreathing access to space technology

4. 10X Scramjet Partnership Established with Air Force
Objective
Develop the physics knowledge, design approaches, tools and test techniques to design and test scramjets 10X > the state of the art (1X = X-51A scramjet)
Approach
Investigate scale effects on fundamental combustion processes
Develop new test techniques utilizing existing infrastructure
Validate 10X scramjet design approach (test techniques, combustion CFD codes)
Status
Joint 10X scramjet test technique effort established with AFRL Propulsion and OSD Test & Engineering
Truncated inlet (TRINT) test in GRC 1’ X 1’ Supersonic Wind Tunnel June 2011
6X scale test in LaRC 8’ High Temperature Tunnel 1st Q FY12
Significance
New NASA/Air Force partnership required to develop 10X scramjet scaling technology
Enabling technology leading to new vehicle classes for long range cruise or access to space missions
TRINT inlet hardware

5. Turbine-Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) Propulsion
Objective
Demonstrate mode transition from the low-speed turbine to the high-speed scramjet in a large ground test facility
Approach
Develop and test large scale, highly complex, parametric wind tunnel model with internal articulating doors and bleed systems to control and optimize performance
Develop and demonstrate a propulsion control system
Conduct inlet performance, operability and controls studies followed by integration of Mach 3 turbine and simulated scramjet
Status
Inlet performance testing initiated March 2011
Mach 3 turbine development complete
Fully integrated TBCC tests deleted from Project
Significance
Propulsion mode transition is the single most challenging issue for TBCC propulsion system
Enabling technology leading to new vehicle classes for long range cruise or access to space missions
Drawing of fully integrated TBCC
TBCC inlet installed in GRC 10’ X10’ Supersonic Wind Tunnel

6. Joint NASA/AFRL Two-Stage-To-Orbit (TSTO) Vehicle Study
Mission: 20K# payload, 100 nm orbit due East
Objective
Rigorously compare 2 different airbreathing TSTO concepts to understand vehicle trade space and to determine the state of the art for conceptual design tools
Approach
Identify single mission, common ground rules and assumptions, and methods fidelity for both study teams
Each organization independently develop a TSTO vehicle
Each organization conduct blind assessment of the other organization’s TSTO vehicle concept
Status
Concept definition and blind studies complete
Lessons learned and documentation to be developed
Report out at next Executive Research Council Meeting
Significance
Established a national understanding of the state of the art and challenges of airbreathing access to space vehicle conceptual design
Study will lead to investment strategy decisions
NASA turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) booster (1st stage) with rocket-powered orbiter
Air Force rocket-based combined cycle (RBCC) orbiter (2nd stage) concept

7. Partnerships Are Critical
HIFiRE Flight 2
NASA-USAF TSTO Study
X-51 Testing
NASA Research Announcements and the NASA and
AFOSR jointly funded National Hypersonic Science Centers

8. Summary
The Hypersonics Project is in the midst of a refocusing planning effort due to a 50% reduction.
NASA research is focused on advancing the state of the art and the transition of knowledge and technologies to the community.
We need to build on recent success of programs such as X-51, and use these flight opportunities to advance fundamental research.
Continue the “community” partnership approach to advance the field.