There's a history of hypersonic flight in New Mexico and New Mexico State University appears ready to build upon that legacy after learning it will receive a two-year, $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Announced in mid-May via a news release, the grant is meant to lead to competitive research in a specific area. NMSU’s project is based around creating a center for hypersonic sensor development and testing. The project stands to bring exposure to the university’s ambitions in hypersonic research and education, according to a news release from the university.
Hypersonic in this case means kinds of high-speed vehicles with the ability to travel at velocities greater than five times the speed of sound — about 3,800 mph — for a sustained period.
In 1949, New Mexico became home to the first man-made object to reach hypersonic speeds, according to NMSU. A two-stage rocket launched from White Sands Missile Range reached a speed of 5,150 mph — about Mach 6.7 — before it burned up during atmospheric reentry.
NMSU offers the only aerospace engineering degree in New Mexico. As such, the institution must lead the way in providing well-prepared engineers to New Mexico companies while producing research for commercial and defense-related programs, said Jay I. Frankel, who heads NMSU's department of mechanical and aerospace engineering.
“We expect research and workforce development support from a wide range of government, military and corporate sources in order to maintain a diverse and active research portfolio that meets the mission of the university and country’s needs,” Frankel said in a prepared statement.
“Having a strong hypersonics program at NMSU will produce and encourage startup companies and help motivate the relocation of companies to this region," Frankel continued.
NMSU’s proposal was one of only two full proposals to receive a $1 million, two-year award.
