Hypersonic Speed Wind Tunnel (IMAGE)

Purdue University

Hypersonic Speed Wind Tunnel

Caption

Brad Wheaton, left, and Peter Gilbert, graduate students in aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue, stand near a segment of a special type of wind tunnel capable of running quietly at hypersonic speeds. Experiments using the wind tunnel are enabling engineers to study how air turns from "laminar," or smooth, to turbulent. Findings will help researchers determine how to control deadly friction and heating in the design of future spacecraft, advanced missiles and "hypersonic" aircraft powered by engines called scramjets.

Credit

Purdue News Service photo/Andrew Hancock

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