Non-Defence Trials

HyShot Sounding Rocket Trials

The HyShot program was initiated by the University of Queensland (UQ) for the purpose of testing advanced scramjet hypersonic propulsion. The program entailed the launch of UQ designed scramjet engines on Terrier-Orion sounding rockets provided by DTI Associates. The rockets reached an apogee of over 300 km and a down-range distance of ~400 km.

During the HyShot-2 flight on 30 July 2002, the UQ group achieved the first ever demonstration of in-flight supersonic combustion. Activation of the hydrogen powered scramjet engine occurred during atmospheric re-entry at an altitude of approximately 35 km and at a speed of around Mach 7.5. HyShot-2 flight data have been compared with test results obtained using the same scramjet engine in the UQ shock tunnel facility.

Further flights in the HyShot series have been undertaken as Defence trials in collaboration with international partners. AOSG provided support for the HyShot trials including launch sequencing, radar tracking and safety management. Images and video clips of the HyShot flights are available at UQ’s Centre for Hypersonics website.