2 ms·
> There would be no atmospheric scattering Kind of by definition if something is -sonic then it's in the atmosphere. There would be less scattering but there
by dabluecaboose 3y ago
> There would be no atmospheric scattering
Kind of by definition if something is -sonic then it's in the atmosphere. There would be less scattering but there would definitely be some on the target end.
- arijun 3y agoThe article said ICBMs were hypersonic, and those certainly spend a lot of time outside of the atmosphere. The gliders seem to spend the entirety of their trip in the upper atmosphere, though.
- dabluecaboose 3y agoReentry does kind of by definition enter the hypersonic regime, but it's somewhat unintuitive to the layperson since Mach 5 is much slower at those very low pressures, and it's an entirely different beast than flying at Mach 5 in-atmosphere proper