NASA image: T-38C passes in front of the sun at supersonic speed
An Air Force Test Pilot School T-38C passes in front of the sun at a supersonic speed, creating shockwaves that are caught photographically for research.
NASA is using a modern version of a 150-year-old German photography technique — schlieren imagery — to visualize supersonic flow phenomena with full-scale aircraft in flight. The results will help engineers to design a quiet supersonic transport.
Although current regulations prohibit unrestricted overland supersonic flight in the United States, a clear understanding of the location and relative strength of shock waves is essential for designing future high-speed commercial aircraft.
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NASA image: T-38C passes in front of the sun at supersonic speed (2016, April 13)
retrieved 23 April 2024
from https://phys.org/news/2016-04-nasa-image-t-38c-front-sun.html
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