Japan's New Hypersonic Engine Could Make 2-Hour Flights to the US a Reality

Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency has successfully tested a ramjet engine designed for Mach-5 hypersonic aircraft, bringing the possibility of 2-hour flights between Tokyo and Los Angeles closer to reality. The ground-based test, conducted at JAXA's Kakuda Space Center, validated the aircraft's heat-shielding, control surfaces, and engine performance under extreme conditions, including temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius. If development continues on schedule, commercial hypersonic passenger service could become available by the 2040s.