Launch News DARPA Mach 20 Missile Failure

[Thunder Chicken]

Here is a story about the postflight investigation. Apparently the friction at Mach 20 was enough to erode and tear up parts of the vehicle skin, altering the aerodynamics violently.

http://www.networkworld.com/communi...apart-after-3-minutes-sustained-mach-20-speed

 

[boogabooga]

Old thread, but seems something similar failed over the weekend:

http://news.yahoo.com/hypersonic-weapon-detonated-lift-off-us-military-183703259.html

Not sure if it is the same program, perhaps with a new name?