Part 2/9:
To establish a foundation, it was essential to define hypersonic speed. Conventional aircraft typically max out at around 2.5 to 3.5 times the speed of sound (Mach 3), a threshold achieved with classic engineering solutions, such as those used in the Lockheed Blackbird spy plane. However, the hypersonic domain, which starts at Mach 5, opens a new realm of engineering and scientific challenges, differentiating itself from subsonic and supersonic flight.