Europe expands its access to space with INVICTUS, ESA's reusable hypersonic aircraft.

A hypersonic aircraft is an aircraft capable of flying at speeds greater than five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5, which is equivalent to over 4,832 kilometers per hour. This type of vehicle is designed to reach high speeds and withstands thermal stresses on its surface, thereby dissipating the generated heat. Examples include the autonomous Jungfrau hypersonic aircraft, which will use hydrogen as fuel, Stargazer, for record-breaking travel , and the recently unveiled INVICTUS from the European Space Agency (ESA) .

If we delve deeper into the last-mentioned aircraft, INVICTUS is a fully reusable experimental aerospace vehicle capable of flying at Mach 5. Furthermore, when launched, it will demonstrate key technologies for sustained hypersonic flight in the atmosphere and will be upgradeable, allowing for the exchange of materials, software, and propulsion systems between flight test campaigns.

Invictus will undoubtedly offer industry the opportunity to test future hypersonic technologies in a relevant environment, considering that one of the main challenges is that, at high speeds, due to impact heating and surface friction, the vehicle's outer surface and the air entering the engines reach quite high temperatures. This situation therefore requires specialized technology, as well as unique propulsion systems , to propel the aircraft at high speeds.

David Perigo, ESA's chemical propulsion engineer and technical lead for the programme, explains on the official ESA blog that "the INVICTUS programme will demonstrate the suitability of a pre-cooled, air-breathing hydrogen propulsion system for horizontal takeoff and hypersonic flight." It will also "provide an invaluable opportunity to test engine flow at full scale , from intake to afterburner, in an integrated aircraft."

But what is the precooler system? This innovative technology is capable of cooling superheated air in a fraction of a second and, in addition to providing a cooling system , paves the way for true spaceplanes capable of horizontal takeoff from a runway.

What INVICTUS means for ESA

INVICTUS will offer Europe a unique resource for exploring this type of flight, given that it represents an opportunity to provide advanced space technology and develop dual-use capabilities.

Tommaso Ghidini, Head of ESA's Mechanical Department, adds: "Hypersonic flight is not only the next frontier for the aerospace industry, but also the gateway to a new paradigm for mobility, defense and access to space . With INVICTUS, Europe is seizing the opportunity to pioneer technologies that will redefine the way we move around the planet and beyond."

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