Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle -- missions for this type?

Looks like the USAF is taking this to test.
(http://www.space.com/businesstechnol...pa_falcon.html)

What sorts of missions might be appropriate for operational craft derived
from this vehicle? It can get places in a big hurry, but it's probably
capable only of stand-off operations, because it doesn't appear capable of
operating below Mach 9 and 100,000 feet. Also, its loiter capability
appears to be on the order of tenths of a second.

If it's not an unmanned and disposable delivery system or carrier, how does
it get back to base?

Finally, there was something in sci.space.news about this being used to
support the "joint warfighter." I've been trying to track this, and it
seems pretty fuzzy -- anything from a truly new war management concept to a
huge excuse to lighten the taxpayers' wallets. Any thoughts?


Jim McCauley

"Jim McCauley" jematfriidotnet wrote in message
...
Looks like the USAF is taking this to test.
(http://www.space.com/businesstechnol...pa_falcon.html)

What sorts of missions might be appropriate for operational craft derived
from this vehicle? It can get places in a big hurry, but it's probably
capable only of stand-off operations, because it doesn't appear capable of
operating below Mach 9 and 100,000 feet. Also, its loiter capability
appears to be on the order of tenths of a second.

The same sort of mission you'd fly with an F-117 or a B-2, only *a lot*
faster?

If it's not an unmanned and disposable delivery system or carrier, how
does
it get back to base?

The same way that current, reusable, UAV's get back to base?

Jeff
--
Remove icky phrase from email address to get a valid address.

"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
...
The same sort of mission you'd fly with an F-117 or a B-2, only *a lot*
faster?

Not the same flight envelope. Those stealth designs have the option of
coming in on the deck at something mildly above zero feet. The Falcon does
not.

If it's not an unmanned and disposable delivery system or carrier, how
does
it get back to base?

The same way that current, reusable, UAV's get back to base?

Configured as gliders, Falcon derivatives would not have this capability, of
course, so my guess is that they would be unmanned one-ways, unless there's
some sort of "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" option to glide through to a
friendly destination nearby.

Sustained powered flight in the Falcon envelope presents its own challenges.
Have scramjets have been demonstrated to work where these puppies are going?
Rockets are a possibility, but for sustained flight? Don't think so. How
could the fuel/oxydizer load be managed and still have mass left over for
payload or a pilot?

Maybe it could skip Saenger-style, but that does not appear to be a
publicized mode of operation.


Jim McCauley

Jim McCauley wrote:

"Jeff Findley" wrote in message
...


The same sort of mission you'd fly with an F-117 or a B-2, only *a lot*
faster?



Not the same flight envelope. Those stealth designs have the option of
coming in on the deck at something mildly above zero feet. The Falcon does
not.



But if you can only be detected by radar at a distance of say twenty
miles, and you overfly enemy territory at thirty miles altitude.....
This thing is apparently a evolved multiple weapon carrying version of
the old Hypersonic Glide Vehicle concept:
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/hgv.htm
It is also very similar to what the Russians say they are building:
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/hgv.htm


Pat

on Fri, 03 Feb 2006 08:17:35 -0600, Pat Flannery sez:


` Jim McCauley wrote:

` "Jeff Findley" wrote in message
` ...
`
`
` The same sort of mission you'd fly with an F-117 or a B-2, only *a lot*
` faster?
`
`
`
` Not the same flight envelope. Those stealth designs have the option of
` coming in on the deck at something mildly above zero feet. The Falcon does
` not.
`
`

` But if you can only be detected by radar at a distance of say twenty
` miles, and you overfly enemy territory at thirty miles altitude.....
` This thing is apparently a evolved multiple weapon carrying version of
` the old Hypersonic Glide Vehicle concept:
` http://www.astronautix.com/craft/hgv.htm
` It is also very similar to what the Russians say they are building:
` http://www.astronautix.com/craft/hgv.htm

This sort of thing would be good for connecting with a conservatively
designed rotating tether whose mid-range orbit and low rotation rate
mean a fast velocity of the tip relative to earth's surface but
allows construction well within the tensile limits of existing
materials. What are the odds this application has any presence
at all in their thinking?

--
================================================== ========================
Pete Vincent
Disclaimer: all I know I learned from reading Usenet.