A 'Space Plane' That Can Get You Anywhere on Earth in One Hour? Meet the Company Trying to Build It

A ‘Space Plane’ That Can Get You Anywhere on Earth in One Hour? Meet the Company Trying to Build It

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 12:43 PM ET

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[File photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

Venus Aerospace is developing hypersonic aircraft capable of traveling across the world in approximately one hour, aiming to overcome the challenges of long global transit times and jet lag.
This innovative transport relies on three key technologies: rotation detonation engines for superior thrust, a "waverider" aircraft design that optimizes lift and reduces drag at hypersonic speeds, and an advanced metal nose for rapid heat dissipation, enabling quick turnaround times.
The company projects a full-scale design by 2025 and test flights around 2030, with passengers experiencing minimal G-forces and no need for space suits, taking off and landing conventionally from certified spaceports.

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One of the challenges of the global marketplace is human logistics. If your work takes you to the other side of the world, it is not uncommon to spend more than 10 hours in transit and the better part of a day to adjust to jet lag. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could get there in an hour?

It’s possible, says Andrew Duggleby the co-founder of Venus Aerospace, a company dedicated to hypersonic transport.