The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced the latest data analysis result of the scramjet engine flight test that was commissioned to the University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia. The test was held at 11:40 a.m. on March 30, 2006 (Japan Standard Time, JST) using the HyShot flight experiment system.
JAXA analyzed the flight data as soon as it was received them from the UQ on the 17th, and found that the nose cone developed by the UQ, a cover for the scramjet engine aboard the top of the launch vehicle, was not jettisoned, thus the flight test failed.
An investigation into the failure will be led by the UQ based on their contract; however, JAXA will also form their own investigation team within JAXA to smoothly and timely acquire information from the UQ and study the measures for the future.
(Reference press releases)
(1) Commissioning of Scramjet Combustor Flight Experiment
(March 20, 2006)
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/03/20060320_ramjet_e.html
(2) Flight Test Results for Scramjet Engine (March 30, 2006)
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/03/20060330_ramjet_e.html
(3) Flight Test Results for Scramjet Engine (Follow-up Report)
(March 30, 2006)
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/03/20060330_ramjet2_e.html
(4) Flight Test Results for Scramjet Engine (Follow-up Report #2)
(March 30, 2006)
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2006/03/20060330_ramjet3_e.html