05-28-2010, 04:09 PM
Hmm..
Well, here's a mostly unedumacated scenario;
Hypersonic air-breather stage for high mach long distance cruise, then the "penetrator" detaches with it's own solid rocket motor as a speed sustainer...
Now you have intercontinental range, high speed, high altitude cruise, and high speed 'warhead' impact... so the hypersonic stage doesn't have to operate in thicker atmosphere.
And once the hypersonic engines are more fully developed, there are LOTS of things to do with them that don't involve breaking stuff! :-)
Well, here's a mostly unedumacated scenario;
Hypersonic air-breather stage for high mach long distance cruise, then the "penetrator" detaches with it's own solid rocket motor as a speed sustainer...
Now you have intercontinental range, high speed, high altitude cruise, and high speed 'warhead' impact... so the hypersonic stage doesn't have to operate in thicker atmosphere.
And once the hypersonic engines are more fully developed, there are LOTS of things to do with them that don't involve breaking stuff! :-)