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posted by chromas on Thursday August 09 2018, @12:00AM   Printer-friendly

China claims to have successfully tested its first hypersonic aircraft

China claims to have successfully tested its first hypersonic aircraft, a big step forward in aerospace technology that could intensify pressure on the US military. The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics (CAAA), based in Beijing and part of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, conducted the first test of the "Starry Sky-2" aircraft last Friday.

Hypersonic vehicles are not simply high-speed -- they travel at least at five times the speed of sound. That's fast enough to travel across the US in around 30 minutes. According to a CAAA statement released Monday, the Starry Sky-2 reached a top speed of Mach 6 -- six times the speed of sound, or 4,563 miles (7,344 kilometers) per hour.

The test was a "complete success," claimed CAAA, which posted photos of the test launch on social media platform WeChat. "The Starry Sky-2 flight test project was strongly innovative and technically difficult, confronting a number of cutting-edge international technical challenges." The CAAA did not indicate what the new aircraft or technology would be used for, other than to say they hoped to continue contributing to China's aerospace industry.

Also at Quartz and NextBigFuture.

Related: General: U.S. Has No Defense Against "Hypersonic Weapons"


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  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 09 2018, @12:38AM (6 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 09 2018, @12:38AM (#719143)

    Deliver Chinese food at 5x the speed of sound. Now your eggrolls won't be soggy by the time you get them.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 09 2018, @12:42AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 09 2018, @12:42AM (#719148)

    Eggrolls are not Chinese. They were invented by the Romans around 125 b.c.

    • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 09 2018, @07:13AM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 09 2018, @07:13AM (#719275)

      Last time I checked, my local Roman restaurant didn't deliver.

      • (Score: 2) by ewk on Thursday August 09 2018, @12:04PM

        by ewk (5923) on Thursday August 09 2018, @12:04PM (#719323)

        s/local Roman restaurant/pizzeria/

        There you are.... delivery all the way up to your doorstep..
        Still no eggrolls though :-D

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        I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
  • (Score: 4, Funny) by Grishnakh on Thursday August 09 2018, @01:24AM (2 children)

    by Grishnakh (2831) on Thursday August 09 2018, @01:24AM (#719176)

    Don't be ridiculous. "Chinese" food served in America isn't really even Chinese, it's an Americanized bastardization.

    No, the real purpose of these planes is to deliver your goods from Aliexpress faster and put Amazon out of business.

    • (Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Thursday August 09 2018, @06:06PM (1 child)

      by DeathMonkey (1380) on Thursday August 09 2018, @06:06PM (#719516) Journal

      Don't be ridiculous. "Chinese" food served in America isn't really even Chinese, it's an Americanized bastardization.

      The documentary "Finding General Tso" was really interesting if you're into the history surrounding that stuff. It was on Netflix a while back...

      • (Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Sunday August 12 2018, @02:40AM

        by Grishnakh (2831) on Sunday August 12 2018, @02:40AM (#720434)

        That does sound interesting, especially since I love General Tso's chicken (though of course I know it isn't authentic Chinese). Thanks for the pointer.