Episode May 3, 2025 12 min 11s

High-Speed Dreams: NASA and the Technopolitics of Supersonic Transportation

This extensive Book examines the technopolitical history of supersonic transportation, particularly focusing on NASA's role in researching and developing supersonic and hypersonic aircraft. It traces the development of supersonic technology from early aerodynamic research and military applications through to the commercial aspirations of the Supersonic Transport (SST) programs. The analysis highlights the complex interplay of economic factors, national prestige, environmental concerns (noise and ozone depletion), and international competition from projects like the Concorde and TU-144 that influenced the funding, design, and eventual cancellation of the American SST effort. The source also explores later attempts, such as the High Speed Research (HSR) program, to revive supersonic commercial flight by addressing the environmental and economic challenges that plagued earlier initiatives, revealing the ongoing tension between pushing technological boundaries and addressing practical and political realities.

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