Skylon: Testing Key Part of the Hypersonic Spaceplane

[Eudoxia]

[RELEASE]
Flight Global - Testing is under way to demonstrate the heat exchanger technology crucial to a hybrid air- and liquid oxygen-breathing rocket motor that Oxford-based Reaction Engines believes will enable single-stage-to-orbit flight.
[QUOTE]The Sabre engine is intended to power a reusable, runway take-off and landing unpiloted spaceplane called Skylon, which promises to put payloads of up to 12t into orbit - and as much as 6 tons to a high geostationary orbit - for 10% of the cost of a traditional rocket launch.
[/QUOTE]
[IMG]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yTMMBNiKdyg/ToDQunp95oI/AAAAAAAAMoE/OWnKe2cdwDw/s1600/Skylon_front_view.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE]Reaction insists the heat exchanger works, but trials set to run to year-end are needed to demonstrate to waiting investors that the technology is viable. Then, the company says, its investors are ready to release £200 million ($325 million) for a 2012-14 project phase to build an engine demonstrator. If successful, a further £7.5 billion ($10 billion) should be forthcoming to develop the airframe for service from 2020, says the company.
[/QUOTE]
[/RELEASE]

Source: [url]http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/09/skylon-testing-key-part-of-hypersonic.html[/url]

[Obama Yo Momma]

I love you.

[Eudoxia]

This project has me all worried.

I mean, SpaceX at least has proven itself. But Reaction Engines is, well, a company out of nowhere selling this vaporware spaceplane which they claim can do wonders -- But I don't have the engineering background to evaluate its feasibility -- and saying it will revolutionize spacecraft.

I mean, I want to believe and all, but shit...

[Angus725]

That's a sexy looking spaceplane.

[Wallyroberto]

I read the title as skyrim and I was very confused

[doonbugie2]

and I won't ever be able to fly on it.

[Used Car Salesm]

I'm still skeptical until I see a working engine demonstration. Until that happens, it's just vaporware.

[FunnyBunny]

Kinda reminds me of firefly with the way the engines are positioned on the wings.

[cqbcat]

Looks similar to a to a SR-71 Blackbird, which also happens to be arguably the fastest plane in the world. I wonder if there's a reason for the similarity.

[ewitwins]

If this is legitimate, it means we're one step closer to company spacecraft

[Sputn!k]

Eudoxia, you make my favorite threads

[OvB]

[QUOTE=cqbcat;32501015]Looks similar to a to a SR-71 Blackbird, which also happens to be arguably the fastest plane in the world. I wonder if there's a reason for the similarity.[/QUOTE]

Arguably? It can go mach 3.

It's the fastest.