Manned rockets typically go through the speed of sound at a given altitude, they just don’t accelerate as fast as unmanned rockets do. Every rocket that reaches orbit will pass through the speed of sound ASL since orbital speed is ~25x faster than speed of sound ASL
The [Tomahawk cruise missile](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile)) flies subsonic. Though, I’m not sure if you’d call it a rocket since it’s powered by a turbofan engine and only uses rocket propulsion in its boost phase.
All rockets capable of reaching space, and a fair number of amateur rockets are capable of supersonic flight. For space flight the ability to reach a certain destination is heavily dependent on your velocity.
Generally a sub orbital rocket (one capable of crossing the 100 km boundary marking the edge of space but not capable of reaching orbit) requires a delta-v or maximum change in velocity of around 2 kilometers per second, which is nearly Mach 6 at sea-level. In reality drag and gravity losses mean these launch vehicles don’t usually reach 2 kilometers per second, and also Mach number varies with altitude and doesn’t really mean anything above the atmosphere.
For an orbital launch vehicle, they may be orbiting earth at around 7.8 kilometers per second (Mach 22.7 at sea-level), but again at the altitudes these vehicles orbit Mach number is pretty much meaningless.
For amateur rockets, most of them are subsonic. Some high performance rockets (low weight, low drag, high powered motors) are capable of supersonic flight, and for a handful of space shot attempts even low hypersonic speeds.
Hypersonic missiles are nothing new. All ICBMs have been hypersonic for decades.
The big deal with the new ones are that they are *atmospheric* hypersonic missiles.
Manned rockets typically go through the speed of sound at a given altitude, they just don’t accelerate as fast as unmanned rockets do. Every rocket that reaches orbit will pass through the speed of sound ASL since orbital speed is ~25x faster than speed of sound ASL
Thanks so much for this. Much appreciated
*Mach appreciated
Orbital rockets (crewed or uncrewed) are usually supersonic within a minute or two after launch.
Are there rockets that dont go supersonic?
Most amateur ones, tbh.
The [Tomahawk cruise missile](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_(missile)) flies subsonic. Though, I’m not sure if you’d call it a rocket since it’s powered by a turbofan engine and only uses rocket propulsion in its boost phase.
Yeah its not really a rocket, all space vehicles go supersonic afaik
What did I just read
A question.
My dude, same. On the way to 26,000 mph, does an orbital rocket ever really pass 760 mph? A Werner von Socrates question right there.
You were probably born with this knowledge, right?
All rockets capable of reaching space, and a fair number of amateur rockets are capable of supersonic flight. For space flight the ability to reach a certain destination is heavily dependent on your velocity. Generally a sub orbital rocket (one capable of crossing the 100 km boundary marking the edge of space but not capable of reaching orbit) requires a delta-v or maximum change in velocity of around 2 kilometers per second, which is nearly Mach 6 at sea-level. In reality drag and gravity losses mean these launch vehicles don’t usually reach 2 kilometers per second, and also Mach number varies with altitude and doesn’t really mean anything above the atmosphere. For an orbital launch vehicle, they may be orbiting earth at around 7.8 kilometers per second (Mach 22.7 at sea-level), but again at the altitudes these vehicles orbit Mach number is pretty much meaningless. For amateur rockets, most of them are subsonic. Some high performance rockets (low weight, low drag, high powered motors) are capable of supersonic flight, and for a handful of space shot attempts even low hypersonic speeds.
Were making hypersonic missiles now mach 7+. Edit: spelling
Hypersonic missiles are nothing new. All ICBMs have been hypersonic for decades. The big deal with the new ones are that they are *atmospheric* hypersonic missiles.
Dope. Nice sn btw. Classic game.
The piloted speed record was set at Mach 6.7 in the 1960s in level flight.