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The High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) was a supersonic transport designed by NASA. It was to be a future Supersonic Passenger Aircraft, designed to fly Mach 2 or 2 times the speed of sound. It was to be designed to cross the Atlantic or the Pacific in half the time of a regular airplane. It was also supposed to be fuel efficient, much cheaper than a ticket on a Concorde, and was intended to fly within 20 years. The project was started in 1990 but ended during 1999. The goal was to employ up-to-date technologies. It was designed to carry 300 passengers. Its design sources were mostly based on the Tupolev Tu-144
Development
The aircraft began computer testing on 1995 and since those tests more modern and better equipment has been applied to the airplanes design. It went through wind testing on Boeing's air testing tunnel. Computer testing satisfy many scientist, architects, and environmentalists. Many other materials went through testing the same way. Future ideas will also be installed on the aircraft for future efficiency. The parts were also all built by Boeing and McDonnell Douglas which will promise future efficiency also.
Design
Materials
Metals that withstand heat and composite metals may be able to allow the plane to fly to 60,000 feet and designed to withstand 350 degrees Fahrenheit. The metals would make the plane strong light and durable. The wings fully composite which means the plane would have a low taxiing weight. The unique materials would help the plane hit low emission targets. The engine will be able to withstand up to 3000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cockpit visibility
The eXternal Visiblility System was a system designed to avoid looking out the window and the need for a heavy nose like Concorde because the screen shows everything happening outside the cockpit.
Environmental Compatibility
The engine was designed reduce sonic booms and to clean the emissions that way it will only release air. The engine will not produce particles to destroy the ozone layer. The plane would also have been designed to withstand high amounts of radiation.