The current state of Australian research on hypersonics

The Australian hypersonics network comprises the key institutions conducting hypersonics research in this country. These are: The University of Queensland (UQ); The University of New South Wales at the Australian Defence Force Academy (UNSW@ADFA); The University of Southern Queensland (USQ); The University of Adelaide (UA); and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO). The network is university-driven and exists to maintain world-class, fundamental research in hypersonics to underpin developments in both space science and technology and high speed atmospheric and space transport. Hypersonics is the science and technology of flight at speeds greater than approximately five times the sound barrier, and defines the design and operation of vehicles for access to and return from space, and for entry into other planetary atmospheres. Hypersonics is thus a key enabling technology for space science and industry, and features strongly in the activities of major international space players such as NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the respective German, French and Italian aerospace agencies (DLR, ONERA and CIRA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and others. Hypersonics is also the focus of considerable investment and effort by emerging space-faring nations such as India, China and Brazil. Australia, mainly through a heritage established and maintained by our universities, but also more recently by the applied work at DSTO, is a world leader in hypersonics research and development. This presentation will summarise the current state of Australian research on hypersonics.