HYFLEX (Hypersonic Flight Experiment) was a
National Space Development Agency of Japan reentry demonstrator prototype which was launched in 1996 on the only flight of the
J-I launcher. It was a successor of
OREX and was a precursor for the Japanese space shuttle
HOPE-X.
HYFLEX tested the carbon-carbon heat shielding tiles that were intended to be used on HOPE, as well as having the same body shaping in order to gather data on hypersonic lifting. HYFLEX flew in space at altitude and succeeded in re-entry, but sank in the Pacific after splashdown before it could be recovered.
Overview
HYFLEX was an uncrewed
lifting body
A lifting body is a fixed-wing aircraft or spacecraft configuration in which the body itself produces lift (force), lift. In contrast to a flying wing, which is a wing with minimal or no conventional fuselage, a lifting body can be thought of as ...
space plane for gaining technological prowess in the design, production, and flight of
hypersonic crafts, as well as technology validation of
atmospheric reentry
Atmospheric entry (sometimes listed as Vimpact or Ventry) is the movement of an object from outer space into and through the gases of an atmosphere of a planet, dwarf planet, or natural satellite. Atmospheric entry may be ''uncontrolled entry ...
.
The experimental vehicle was covered in
carbon–carbon, ceramic tiles, and flexible
thermal insulation
Thermal insulation is the reduction of heat transfer (i.e., the transfer of thermal energy between objects of differing temperature) between objects in thermal contact or in range of radiative influence. Thermal insulation can be achieved with s ...
, which were materials that was to be used for HOPE.
Launched on 11 February 1996 (UTC) from
Tanegashima Space Center by a
J-I rocket, separation from the rocket was conducted at an altitude of , speed of approximately 3.8 km/s.
was performed by
gas thrusters and
aerodynamic rudders.
During its descent the craft
glided in a right turn circling the island of
Chichijima
is the largest and most populous islands of Japan, island in the Japanese archipelago of Bonin Islands, Bonin or Ogasawara Islands. Chichijima is about north of Iwo Jima. in size, the island is home to about 2,120 people (2021). Connected to ...
in the
Ogasawara Archipelago. HYFLEX had various sensors attached to each parts, and succeeded in gaining data on surface
aerodynamic heating and pressure.
The craft
splashed down in the waters northeast of Chichijima with
parachute
A parachute is a device designed to slow an object's descent through an atmosphere by creating Drag (physics), drag or aerodynamic Lift (force), lift. It is primarily used to safely support people exiting aircraft at height, but also serves va ...
s, however the floats and riser broke off while floating and recovery was abandoned.
HYFLEX was succeeded by
ALFLEX.
See also
*
1996 in spaceflight
*
Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle
*
RLV-TD Hypersonic Flight Experiment (India)
References
{{Spaceplanes
Satellites of Japan
Spaceplanes