{{Short description|2021 Brazilian Air Force mission}} {{infobox spaceflight | insignia =14-XS patch.png | name = 14-XS | mission_type = Sub-orbital spaceflight<br>Technological demonstrator | mission_duration = | operator =Brazilian Air Force | suborbital_apogee = {{cvt|160|km}} | suborbital_range ={{cvt|200|km}} | spacecraft = 14-X (scramjet engine) | manufacturer = Orbital Engenharia | launch_date = 14 December 2021 | launch_rocket = VSB-30 V32<ref name="Não_nomeado-ySUj-1">{{Cite web|last1= Brasileira|first1= Força Aérea|url=https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/38356/|title= O Brasil na era da Propulsão Hipersônica: Projeto 14-X|work= Força Aérea Brasileira|date=2021-12-10|accessdate=2022-04-23|lang=pt-br}}</ref> | launch_site = Alcântara Space Center | launch_contractor = Brazilian Air Force | landing_date = 14 December 2021 | destroyed = Ocean Atlantic | programme = '''14-X''' | next_mission = 14-XSP }} '''14-XS''' was an ''Operação Cruzeiro'' mission conducted by the Brazilian Air Force at the Alcantara Launch Center on December 14, 2021.<ref name=fab1>{{Cite web|last1= Brasileira|first1= Força Aérea|url=https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/38395/OPERA%C3%A7%C3%A3O%20CRUZEIRO%20-%20FAB%20realiza%20primeiro%20teste%20de%20voo%20do%20motor%20aeron%C3%A1utico%20hipers%C3%B4nico%2014-X|title= FAB realiza primeiro teste de voo do motor aeronáutico hipersônico 14-X|work= Força Aérea Brasileira|date=2021-12-16|accessdate=2022-04-23}}</ref>
==Mission== The flight was a test to demonstrate scramjet technology. The device was launched by a Hypersonic Accelerator Vehicle (based on the VSB-30 rocket<ref name=CNN1/>) and accelerated to Mach 6 to an altitude of 30 kilometers, from where it continued until it reached a suborbital apogee at an altitude of 160 kilometers and 200 kilometers down range from the launch site, impacting at the Atlantic Ocean.<ref name=fab1/> The model tested combustion in a hypersonic environment and Mach 6 speed was reached at 50 km.<ref name=CNN1/>
Both the Alcântara Launch Center and the Barreira do Inferno Launch Center acted as tracking stations.<ref name=fab1/> The vehicle was the first with a scramjet engine built in Brazil and reached up to 5,000 hp.<ref name=CNN1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/business/conheca-o-projeto-14-x-de-tecnologia-hipersonica-desenvolvido-pela-fab/|title= Conheça o Projeto 14-X, de tecnologia hipersônica, desenvolvido pela FAB |date=2022-01-09|accessdate=2022-04-23}}</ref> The vehicle was built by Orbital Engenharia.<ref name="Não_nomeado-ySUj-1"/>
Both the rocket and the 14-X were built in São José dos Campos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mspost.com.br/operacao-cruzeiro-inicia-com-primeiro-teste-do-motor-hipersonico-14-x-veja-video/|title=FOGUETE BRASILEIRO: Operação Cruzeiro inicia com primeiro teste do motor hipersônico 14-X, veja vídeo|date=2021-12-16|accessdate=2022-04-23|lang=pt-br}}</ref> The engine has been under development since 2008, with the goal of enabling the Brazilian industry to develop aerospace experiments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.correiodobrasil.com.br/fab-testa-motor-hipersonico-foguetes-misseis/|title=FAB testa motor hipersônico para foguetes e mísseis|date=2021-12-05|accessdate=2022-04-23|lang=pt-br}}</ref>
==See also== *14-X *Brazilian space program ==References== {{reflist}} Category:2021 in spaceflight Category:December 2021 in Brazil Category:Suborbital spaceflight Category:Test spaceflights Category:Space program of Brazil