The Supersonics Project is a broad-based effort designed to develop knowledge, capabilities, and technologies in support of all vehicles that fly in the supersonic speed regime. From this spectrum, the project has selected to focus on the technical challenges that form the efficiency, environmental, and performance barriers to practical supersonic cruise vehicles.

The Technical Challenges currently being addressed are as follows:

• Efficiency challenges, including supersonic cruise efficiency, and lightweight, durable airframes and engines that operate at supersonic cruise temperatures
• Environmental challenges, including airport noise reduction, sonic boom modeling, and high-altitude emissions reduction
• Performance challenges, including Aero-Propulso-Servo-Elastic (APSE) analysis and design
• Entry, descent, and landing challenges, including supersonic entry deceleration
• Multidisciplinary design, analysis, and optimization challenges (MDAO)

In the near term, the project has elected to further its focus on the specific challenges associated with reducing sonic boom to a level that will acceptable for overland flight. This work includes elements of the cruise efficiency, sonic boom modeling, and MDAO technical challenges.

Supersonics Project Technical Elements
The Supersonics Project delivers knowledge, capabilities, and technologies to address the many challenges facing successful and efficient supersonic flight.