SR-91 Aurora

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SR-91 "Aurora"
Aurora2.jpg
Role Strategic Reconnaissance Aircraft
Manufacturer Rubin Design Aerospace
First flight 2007
Status Testing
Primary users U.S. Air Force
International Space Agency
Produced 2007 to present
Number built 7
Unit cost Unknown
Developed from SR-71 Blackbird
North American X-15
XB-70 Valkyrie

History

Design and operational details

Air inlets

Fuselage

Stealth

Fuel

Life support

Sensors and payloads

Operational history

Variants

Specifications

Aurora spyplane 3-view.jpg

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (1 pilot, 1 reconnaissance systems officer)
  • Length: 35 m (115 ft)
  • Wingspan: 20 m (65 ft)
  • Height: 6 m (19 ft)
  • Wing area: 300 m² (3,200 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 29,480 kg (65,000 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 71,215 kg (157,000 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 157,000 lb (71,215 kg)
  • Powerplant: (Low Speed) 4× Pratt & Whitney J58-1 afterburning turbojets, 32,500 lbf (145 kN) each, 267 kN est. thrust ((High Speed) 4× scramjets or pulse detonation engines) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: unknown at sea level (Mach 10 at altitude)
  • Range: 9,320 mi (15,000 km)
  • Service ceiling: 40,000 m (131,000 ft)
  • Thrust/weight: 0.70 est.

Fuel types

  • JP-7 or JP-8
  • Methane, MCH, LH2 or hydrogen fuel cells.
  • Possible use of liquid oxygen and hydrogen oxides.
  • Possible use of MHD (Magnetohydrodynamics) technology.

Other equipment

  • Cameras
  • IR sensors
  • Other advanced recon sensors