Introducing 'Stargazer': The Hypersonic Plane That Will Cut New York to Tokyo Flight Time to One Hour.
Venus Aerospace is developing a hypersonic aircraft called Stargazer that can carry about a dozen passengers and travel at Mach 9, or 6,905 mph, at an altitude of 170,000 feet. The aircraft will use a rotating-detonation engine that burns 20% less fuel than a conventional engine. The company recently successfully tested a prototype at its Spaceport Houston headquarters. Stargazer will take off with conventional jet engines and transition to rockets once it reaches altitude. The company will begin hypersonic flight testing with a 20-foot drone that it hopes will reach Mach 5 before building the Stargazer prototype. Other firms, including Sierra Space and Hermeus, are also pursuing hypersonic aircraft concepts.
