Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2

The Falcon HTV-1 program, which preceded the Falcon HTV-2 program, was conducted in April, 2010. The mission ended within nine minutes from launch. Both these missions are funded by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to help develop hypersonic technologies and to demonstrate its effectiveness.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/x-41-htv-2.htm|title=Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle HTV-2|publisher=globalsecurity.org|access-date=2011-08-10}} Under the original plan, HTV-1 was to feature a hypersonic lift-to-drag ratio of 2.5, increasing to 3.5-4 for the HTV-2 and 4-5 for the HTV-3. The actual lift-to-drag ratio of HTV-2 was estimated to be 2.6.{{cite web |url=http://scienceandglobalsecurity.org/archive/2015/09/hypersonic_boost-glide_weapons.html |website=scienceandglobalsecurity.org |title=Hypersonic Boost-Glide Weapons |date=September 2015 |author=James M. Acton}}

HTV-2 was to lead to the development of an HTV-3X vehicle, known as Blackswift, which would have formed the basis for deployment around 2025 of a reusable Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle, an unmanned aircraft capable of taking off from a conventional runway with a 5,400 kg (12,000 lb) payload to strike targets 16,650 km away in under 2 hours. The HCV would have required a lift-to-drag ratio of 6-7 at Mach 10 and 130,000 ft (40,000m).{{cite news|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/does-us-need-1bn-hypersonic-test-area-after-htv-2-failure-341672/ |title=Does US need $1bn hypersonic test area after HTV-2 failure? |website=www.flightglobal.com |date=10 May 2010 |author=Rob Coppinger |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307093817/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/does-us-need-1bn-hypersonic-test-area-after-htv-2-failure-341672/ |archive-date= 7 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}

HTV-2 was expected to demonstrate controllable flight at velocities of around Mach 20, i.e., a capability that can reach anywhere in the world in less than an hour. At that speed, the flight time between New York City and Los Angeles would be less than 12 minutes.{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Tariq |date=August 11, 2011 |title=Superfast Military Aircraft Lost in Test Flight |url=https://www.space.com/12607-darpa-launches-hypersonic-glider-mach-20-test-flight.html |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=space.com}}

File:Darpa HTV-2 illustr.jpg

Development of protection structures that are tough and lightweight; an aerodynamic shape that has a high lift to drag ratio; automatic navigation control systems were among the initial technical challenges facing the designers. The various departments involved in designing the vehicle included aerothermodynamics, materials science, hypersonic navigation, guidance and control systems, endo- and exo-atmospheric flight dynamics, telemetry and range safety analysis. The craft could cover {{convert|17,000|km}}, the distance between London and Sydney, in 49 minutes.

Built by Lockheed Martin, the HTV-2 is made of carbon composite material; the durability of such material was needed to protect important internal components from being destroyed by atmospheric heating. The surface temperature of the HTV-2 was expected to reach {{convert|3,500|F|C|order=flip}} or more in flight; steel melts at {{convert|2,500|F|C|order=flip}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2012-apr-20-la-fi-mo-darpa-hypersonic-missile-20120420-story.html|title = Archives|website = Los Angeles Times}}

File:Minotaur-4-Lite HTV-2a 1 (cropped).jpg

File:FalconHTV2FlightPath.jpg

Both flights reached Mach 20 (high-hypersonic speed) and lost telemetry at 9 minutes of a planned 30-minute mission.

The HTV-2's first flight was launched on 22 April 2010.[https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/?id=123201119 "First Minotaur IV Lite launches from Vandenberg"] . U.S. Air Force, 22 April 2010. The HTV-2 glider was to fly {{convert|4800|mi|km}} across the Pacific to Kwajalein at Mach 20.{{cite web|last=Little |first=Geoffrey |url=http://www.airspacemag.com/issues/2007/september/hypersonics.php?page=1 |title=Mach 20 or Bust, Weapons research may yet produce a true spaceplane |work=Air & Space Magazine |date=1 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101221402/http://www.airspacemag.com/issues/2007/september/hypersonics.php?page=1 |archive-date=1 January 2013 }} The HTV-2 was boosted by a Minotaur IV Lite rocket launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; the glider was carried inside the nose of the Minotaur IV Lite rocket into outer space with a launch altitude of {{convert|100|miles}}. The flight plan called for the craft to separate from the launch vehicle, level out and glide above the Pacific at Mach 20. Contact was lost with the vehicle at nine minutes into the 30-minute mission, and the glider's skin disintegrated.Clark, Stephen. [http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1004/23minotaur/index.html "New Minotaur rocket launches on suborbital flight"]. spaceflightnow.com, 23 April 2010.{{cite web |last=Waterman |first=Shaun |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jul/22/test-vehicles-flameout-may-end-space-weapon-plan/?page=all |title=Plane's flameout may end space weapon plan |work=Washington Times |date=22 July 2010}} In mid-November, DARPA stated that the first test flight ended when the computer autopilot "commanded flight termination" after the vehicle began to roll violently.{{Cite news |author= Waterman, Shaun |title= Pentagon to test 2nd near-space strike craft |url= http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/nov/25/pentagon-to-test-2nd-near-space-strike-craft/ |work= The Washington Times |date= 25 November 2010 |access-date= November 30, 2010}}

A second flight was initially scheduled to be launched on August 10, 2011, but bad weather forced a delay.{{cite web|url=http://tv.ibtimes.com/pentagon-s-hypersonic-aircraft-test-flight-delayed-due-to-bad-weather/1586.html |title=Pentagon's Hypersonic Aircraft Test Flight Delayed Due to Bad Weather |work=International Business Times |access-date=2011-08-10 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718160714/http://tv.ibtimes.com/pentagon-s-hypersonic-aircraft-test-flight-delayed-due-to-bad-weather/1586.html |archive-date=2012-07-18 |url-status=dead }} The flight was launched the following day, on 11 August 2011. The unmanned Falcon HTV-2 successfully separated from the booster and entered the mission's glide phase, but again lost contact with control about nine minutes into its planned 30-minute Mach 20 glide flight. Initial reports indicated it purposely impacted the Pacific Ocean along its planned flight path as a safety precaution.{{cite web|last=Rosenberg |first=Zach |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/08/11/360647/darpa-loses-contact-with-htv-2.html |title=DARPA loses contact with HTV-2 |work=Flight International |date=11 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230042842/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/darpa-loses-contact-with-htv-2-360647/ |archive-date=30 December 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2011/2011/08/11DARPA_HYPERSONIC_VEHICLE_ADVANCES_TECHNICAL_KNOWLEDGE.aspx

|title=DARPA HYPERSONIC VEHICLE ADVANCES TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE |work=DARPA |date=11 August 2011

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406093529/http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2011/2011/08/11DARPA_HYPERSONIC_VEHICLE_ADVANCES_TECHNICAL_KNOWLEDGE.aspx

|archive-date= 6 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|last=Norris |first=Guy |url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/awx/2011/08/11/awx_08_11_2011_p0-358534.xml&headline=Review%20Board%20Sets%20Up%20to%20Probe%20HTV-2%20L |title=Review Board Sets Up to Probe HTV-2 Loss |work=Aviation Week |date=12 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121185300/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news%2Fawx%2F2011%2F08%2F11%2Fawx_08_11_2011_p0-358534.xml&headline=Review%20Board%20Sets%20Up%20to%20Probe%20HTV-2%20L |archive-date=21 November 2011 |url-status=dead }} The glider's surface reached {{convert|3,500|F|C|order=flip}} (the speed and heat caused part of the skin to peel away from the aerostructure) and controlled itself for 3 minutes before crashing.{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/12670-superfast-hypersonic-military-aircraft-darpa-htv2.html |title=Superfast Military Aircraft Hit Mach 20 Before Ocean Crash, DARPA Says |website=space.com |date=August 18, 2011}}

File:US_DoD,_Navy,_Army_jointly_conducted_a_flight_experiment_of_a_common_hypersonic_glide_body_from_Pacific_Missile_Range_Facility,_Hawaii_on_19_March_2020.jpg

DARPA does not plan to conduct a third flight test of the HTV-2.{{cn|date=June 2024}} The decision was made because substantial data was collected from the first two flights, and a third was not thought likely to provide any additional valuable data for the cost. The first flight provided data in aerodynamics and flight performance, while the second provided information about structures and high temperatures. Experience gained from the HTV-2 will be used to improve hypersonic flight.

{{Portal|Aviation|Spaceflight}}

• DF-ZF – a similar Chinese system that is currently operational.
• Avangard – a similar Russian system that joined service in 2020.
• Boeing X-51 – scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile demonstrator
• Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle – scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile demonstrator

{{clear}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120415072445/http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/TTO/Programs/Falcon_HTV-2.aspx Falcon page on Darpa.mil]
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/hcv.htm HCV page on Globalsecurity.org]
• [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awstspace&id=news/102405p1.xml "Air Drops Dummy Rocket for Darpa's Falcon"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223115257/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awstspace&id=news/102405p1.xml |date=2012-02-23 }}, Aviation Week,
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080917193321/http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003998.html "Hypersonics Back in the News" on Defensetech.org]}}
• [http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/darpa_falcon_030723.html "Going Hypersonic: Flying FALCON for Defense"] and [http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/060126_darpa_falcon.html "Air Force Plans Flight Tests Of Hypersonic Vehicle" on Space.com]
• [http://www.space.com/15388-darpa-hypersonic-glider-demise-explained.html Death of HTV explained]

{{AFRL spacecraft}}

Category:Hypersonic aircraft

Category:DARPA projects

Category:DARPA vehicles