Editing Scramjet (section)

===2000s===
{{Main|Scramjet programs}}
[[File:X43a2 nasa scramjet.jpg|thumb|Artist's conception of the [[NASA X-43]] with scramjet attached to the underside|alt=Artist's conception of black, wingless jet with pointed nose profile and two vertical stabilizers traveling high in the atmosphere.]]

In the 2000s, significant progress was made in the development of hypersonic technology, particularly in the field of scramjet engines.

The [[HyShot]] project demonstrated scramjet combustion on 30 July 2002. The scramjet engine worked effectively and demonstrated supersonic combustion in action. However, the engine was not designed to provide thrust to propel a craft. It was designed more or less as a technology demonstrator.<ref name="AIAA-44-10-2366">{{cite journal |title=Flight Data Analysis of the HyShot 2 Scramjet Flight Experiment |journal=AIAA Journal |year=2006 |last1=Smart |first1=Michael K. |last2=Hass |first2=Neal E. |last3=Paull |first3=Allan |volume=44 |issue=10 |pages=2366–2375 |issn=0001-1452 |doi=10.2514/1.20661|bibcode=2006AIAAJ..44.2366S }}</ref>

A joint British and Australian team from UK defense company [[Qinetiq]] and the [[University of Queensland]] were the first group to demonstrate a scramjet working in an atmospheric test.<ref name="1001 inventions">{{cite book |last1=Challoner |first1=Jack |title=1001 Inventions That Changed the World |location=London |publisher=[[Cassell Illustrated]] |date=2 February 2009 |page=932 |isbn=978-1-84403-611-0 }}</ref>

[[Hyper-X]] claimed the first flight of a thrust-producing scramjet-powered vehicle with full aerodynamic maneuvering surfaces in 2004 with the [[NASA X-43|X-43A]].<ref name="AIAA 2005-3334">{{cite book|title=AIAA/CIRA 13th International Space Planes and Hypersonics Systems and Technologies Conference|last1=Harsha|first1=Philip T.|last2=Keel|first2=Lowell C.|last3=Castrogiovanni|first3=Anthony|last4=Sherrill|first4=Robert T.|date=17 May 2005|publisher=[[AIAA]]|isbn=978-1-62410-068-0|location=[[Capua]], Italy|chapter=2005-3334: X-43A Vehicle Design and Manufacture|doi=10.2514/6.2005-3334}}</ref><ref name="X-43 McClinton">{{cite web |url=https://info.aiaa.org/tac/pc/HYTAPC/Shared%20Documents/Meeting%20Presentations/2006%20ASM/AIAA_DL_McClinton.pdf |title=X-43: Scramjet Power Breaks the Hypersonic Barrier |last=McClinton |first=Charles |publisher=[[AIAA]] |date=9 January 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212152951/https://info.aiaa.org/tac/pc/HYTAPC/Shared%20Documents/Meeting%20Presentations/2006%20ASM/AIAA_DL_McClinton.pdf |archive-date=12 February 2016 |access-date=12 February 2016 }}</ref> The last of the three X-43A scramjet tests achieved Mach{{nbsp}}9.6 for a brief time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-x-43a-scramjet-breaks-speed-record/|title=NASA – NASA's X-43A Scramjet Breaks Speed Record|website=www.nasa.gov|language=en|access-date=13 June 2019}}</ref>

On 15 June 2007, the US Defense Advanced Research Project Agency ([[DARPA]]), in cooperation with the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO)<!--Please note that "Defence" and "Defense" are different for the US and Australian organizaions/organisations respectively -->, announced a successful scramjet flight at Mach{{nbsp}}10 using rocket engines to boost the test vehicle to hypersonic speeds.<ref name="NewSc 15-06-2007">{{cite news |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12075-scramjet-hits-mach-10-over-australia-/ |title=Scramjet hits Mach{{nbsp}}10 over Australia |work=[[New Scientist]] |publisher=[[Reed Business Information]] |date=15 June 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212154205/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12075-scramjet-hits-mach-10-over-australia-/ |archive-date=12 February 2016 |access-date=12 February 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Ballard |first=Terry |title=Google Maps and Google Earth |date=2012 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-1-84334-677-7.50009-7 |work=Google This! |pages=113–124 |access-date=2023-06-02 |publisher=Elsevier|doi=10.1016/b978-1-84334-677-7.50009-7 |isbn=9781843346777 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

A series of scramjet ground tests was completed at [[NASA]] [[Langley Research Center|Langley]] Arc-Heated Scramjet Test Facility (AHSTF) at simulated [[Mach number|Mach]]{{nbsp}}8 flight conditions. These experiments were used to support HIFiRE flight 2.<ref name="NTRS">{{cite conference |last1=Cabell |first1=Karen |last2=Hass |first2=Neal |last3=Storch |first3=Andrea |last4=Gruber |first4=Mark |date=11 April 2011 |title=HIFiRE Direct-Connect Rig (HDCR) Phase I Scramjet Test Results from the NASA Langley Arc-Heated Scramjet Test Facility |conference=17th AIAA International Space Planes and Hypersonic Systems and Technologies Conference |website=NASA Technical Reports Server |hdl=2060/20110011173 |hdl-access=free}}</ref>

On 22 May 2009, Woomera hosted the first successful test flight of a hypersonic aircraft in HIFiRE (Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation). The launch was one of ten planned test flights. The series of flights is part of a joint research program between the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and the US Air Force, designated as the HIFiRE.<ref name="dailytelegraph.com.au">{{cite news |last=Dunning |first=Craig |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/woomera-hosts-first-hifire-hypersonic-test-flight/story-e6frewsr-1225715365056 |title=Woomera hosts first HIFiRE hypersonic test flight |work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]] |publisher=[[News Corp Australia]] |date=24 May 2009 |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-date=August 28, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140828195858/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/woomera-hosts-first-hifire-hypersonic-test-flight/story-e6frewsr-1225715365056}}</ref> HIFiRE is investigating hypersonics technology and its application to advanced scramjet-powered space launch vehicles; the objective is to support the new [[Boeing X-51]] scramjet demonstrator while also building a strong base of flight test data for quick-reaction space launch development and hypersonic "quick-strike" weapons.<ref name="dailytelegraph.com.au"/>