[JCDNWarrior]

The US Military has unveiled a new toy, apparently the newest technology around:

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/196227/20110811/falcon-htv-2-fastest-aircraft-military-hypersonic-darpa.htm

It's also dubbed a 'space plane'. Wanted to hear what everyone thinks of this.

According to some, this tech is 30 years old by the way. Not sure what to think of that.

[The E]

According to some, this tech is 30 years old by the way. Not sure what to think of that.

Most of the research into hypersonic vehicles was done back then (or earlier). In addition, most of the engine concepts originated in theoretical work from that era.

[JCDNWarrior]

Ah, that could explain that claim. It does tend to take a long time from going from theoretic research to deployment of working prototypes. Nonetheless, this is really impressive stuff, it does seem to reinforce the idea that technology itself is far further ahead than we're told.

[zookeeper]

Nice, except that...

The Falcon HTV-2 first began in 2003, as part of a U.S. military research project to create a plane that could reach any part of the world in less than an hour, and potentially deliver bombs in under the same amount of time.

...what are the chances it's going to be used for something nice and useful?

[Dragon]

I'm sure that people in the future would appreciate the capability to get to the other side of the world in less than 15 minutes.
First they'll build a bomber, then the technology might be adapted into civilian transport. If it can carry, say, a ton of bombs, why couldn't it be a ton of something else, after some design changes? Also, it's a major step towards Single Stage To Orbit spaceplanes, which may someday make space travel much more accessible.

[The E]

Nice, except that...

The Falcon HTV-2 first began in 2003, as part of a U.S. military research project to create a plane that could reach any part of the world in less than an hour, and potentially deliver bombs in under the same amount of time.

...what are the chances it's going to be used for something nice and useful?

It took ~15 years for supersonic flight to be used for commercial purposes. Given the constraints of hypersonic flight, this will remain in the military realm for the foreseeable future.

Also, Dragon, a ton of payload really isn't all that much. Concorde had a payload of ~15 tons (IIRC), which was enough for a hundred passengers.

[headdie]

Nice, except that...

The Falcon HTV-2 first began in 2003, as part of a U.S. military research project to create a plane that could reach any part of the world in less than an hour, and potentially deliver bombs in under the same amount of time.

...what are the chances it's going to be used for something nice and useful?

Directly... nothing it reads like a concept/technology development vehicle of which the US military has developed a knack for building.

Indirectly you are looking at the parent for combat craft 2-3 generations from now

[StarSlayer]

Nice, except that...

The Falcon HTV-2 first began in 2003, as part of a U.S. military research project to create a plane that could reach any part of the world in less than an hour, and potentially deliver bombs in under the same amount of time.

...what are the chances it's going to be used for something nice and useful?

It took ~15 years for supersonic flight to be used for commercial purposes. Given the constraints of hypersonic flight, this will remain in the military realm for the foreseeable future.

Also, Dragon, a ton of payload really isn't all that much.

Hey being able to drop a pickup truck and the Expendables probably would be worth while

[Kosh]

Nice, except that...

The Falcon HTV-2 first began in 2003, as part of a U.S. military research project to create a plane that could reach any part of the world in less than an hour, and potentially deliver bombs in under the same amount of time.

...what are the chances it's going to be used for something nice and useful?

It took ~15 years for supersonic flight to be used for commercial purposes. Given the constraints of hypersonic flight, this will remain in the military realm for the foreseeable future.

Depends on how long this takes.

[lostllama]

It reminds me of Ayaks, a Russian hypersonic aircraft program. I'm not sure what's to become of it, or if the program actually exists (or existed).

[Unknown Target]

Nice, except that...

The Falcon HTV-2 first began in 2003, as part of a U.S. military research project to create a plane that could reach any part of the world in less than an hour, and potentially deliver bombs in under the same amount of time.

...what are the chances it's going to be used for something nice and useful?

Why does the US even need this capability anyway? Aren't we in a budget crisis? I'm not saying this shouldn't be researched, but really, it just seems like the military's just jerking off with technology again. Stuff like this should be done by NASA. :\

[headdie]

Nice, except that...

The Falcon HTV-2 first began in 2003, as part of a U.S. military research project to create a plane that could reach any part of the world in less than an hour, and potentially deliver bombs in under the same amount of time.

...what are the chances it's going to be used for something nice and useful?

Why does the US even need this capability anyway? Aren't we in a budget crisis? I'm not saying this shouldn't be researched, but really, it just seems like the military's just jerking off with technology again. Stuff like this should be done by NASA. :\

Budget?  Didnt someone say NASA's budget was coming under review soon so is the DoD's

[Unknown Target]

Yea, and guess which one is way less than the other?

Did you know that the air conditioning for troops in Iraq for a single year is more than NASA's annual operating budget?

[StarSlayer]

Yea, and guess which one is way less than the other?

Did you know that the air conditioning for troops in Iraq for a single year is more than NASA's annual operating budget?

Yeah well, I consider troops not dying of heat stroke and having some level of comfort while they serve halfway around the world to be more important then visiting the moon.  You want to begrudge military expenditures you would do well to look somewhere other then grunts getting a modicum of convenience.

[The E]

Why does the US even need this capability anyway? Aren't we in a budget crisis? I'm not saying this shouldn't be researched, but really, it just seems like the military's just jerking off with technology again. Stuff like this should be done by NASA. :\

Yes, science funded by the military isn't proper science. I mean, no DARPA project ever produced benefits for civilians, right?

Oh, wait. Forgot the internet.

[jr2]

*snrk!*  Did someone say ARPANET?

[LordPomposity]

Yea, and guess which one is way less than the other?

Did you know that the air conditioning for troops in Iraq for a single year is more than NASA's annual operating budget?

Yeah well, I consider troops not dying of heat stroke and having some level of comfort while they serve halfway around the world to be more important then visiting the moon.  You want to begrudge military expenditures you would do well to look somewhere other then grunts getting a modicum of convenience.

If we take it as given that we're going to continue to wage war in the Middle East, we should certainly spare no reasonable expense to do so as effectively as possible and lessen the burden on our troops as much as possible.

It we're a brazillion dollars in debt, we shouldn't be taking it as given that we're going to continue to wage war in the Middle East.

[Unknown Target]

LordPomposity got it.

[Commander Zane]

Trust me, trying to sleep in a summer night with no A/C is impossible, it may be night but the rooms still contain that good 130F+ temperature from being exposed to the sun all day.
And in my year I spent just about the entire summer sleeping A/C-less nights because of the **** power generators.

[NGTM-1R]

LordPomposity got it.

No. He didn't. In fact he completely missed it by complaining about existing expenditures for existing commitments as if they were future expenditures for future commitments.

Basic logical failure ahoy.