Phoenix Missile Hypersonic Testbed Project Overview

Phoenix Missile Hypersonic Testbed Project Overview

Thomas P. Jones

NASA Dryden Flight Research Center

An overview of the development of the Phoenix Missile Hypersonic Testbed (PMHT) is given. The PMHT is being developed to allow for the flight test of various research payloads at speeds from Mach 3 to 5. It is being developed at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center with assistance from the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake. The PMHT consists of a modified AIM-54 Phoenix missile launched from the NASA F-15B aircraft number 836. The forward section of the missile is allocated to house research payloads less than 5.5 ft3 in volume. This presentation will show the systems concept and the concept of operations for the testbed. Examples of possible payloads and the project schedule are shown to inform the research community on a possible future testbed.