WIREDGOV

An exciting initiative supported by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), called the ‘BLOODHOUND Project’, has been launched by Richard Noble to break the current World Land Speed Record. The former World Land Speed Record holder is aiming to inspire young people into following Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education and career paths.

The four year programme will attempt to push the World Land Speed Record beyond the present 763mph (sound barrier) record by developing, building and driving a vehicle (BLOODHOUND SSC) that could travel at up to 1000 mph.

During the design phase, the BLOODHOUND team will be entering unexplored territory in aerodynamics and mechanical research for land based vehicles. BLOODHOUND SSC will be propelled by a Eurojet EJ 200 Typhoon engine and a 25,000lb thrust hybrid rocket motor, where integration will present some major engineering challenges.

With some research funding from the MOD’s Defence Technology & Innovation Centre (DTIC), the programme will provide research output to the MOD in the fields of hybrid rocket propulsion and high strength materials. Dstl is overseeing all research and technology capture between the BLOODHOUND Project and the MOD.

Working in parallel with the vehicle design team, the Education initiative (a.k.a. Bloodhound Engineering Adventure) will be utilising the programme to encourage schoolchildren (4-19 yrs) to gain a greater interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics via the national schools curriculum and through to higher education.

To celebrate Dstl’s involvement in the BLOODHOUND Project, a competition will be shortly launched to schools, aimed at encouraging students to consider some of the potential challenges in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics faced by the vehicle design team. Further details on the competition will be distributed separately and posted on http://www.dstl.gov.uk/

For further information on dstl, please contact:

Alex Sparks

PR & Media Manager 01980 614114

For further information on the whole project, please visit:

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is a centre of scientific excellence for the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Its 3,500 strong workforce includes some of the nation’s most talented and creative scientists with the brief to ensure that the UK Armed Forces and Government are supported in-house by the very best impartial scientific and technological advice. Dstl’s position at the heart of the MOD means that its advice is trusted by governments, academia, industry and international partners. It offers timely and accurate advice at all levels of military planning and operations, both overseas and on the home front. For more information please visit http://www.dstl.gov.uk/

World Land Speed Record

1. Richard Noble set the World Land Speed Record at 633mph in 1983, whilst driving THRUST 2.
2. In 1997, Wg Cdr Andy Green drove THRUST SSC ( with support from Richard Noble) setting a new World Land Speed Record at 763mph/ Mach 1.0.
3. He is the only officially recognised person as having driven a land vehicle at supersonic speed.
4. Andy has been appointed as the driver of BLOODHOUND SSC.
5. There is serious competition to break this record by Australian and US teams.

Dates for your diary

1. 23rd October

   Media Launch at the Science Museum

   Includes an address by the Science & Innovation Minister, DIUS (Lord Drayson), followed by an education launch with outreach opportunities from the Engineering and Education teams to the teaching community.

   1. Late 2008

   Build site construction and vehicle build programme commences at Airbus Site in Filton

   1. Early 2009

   Very low speed runway tests

   1. Mid-late 2009

   20 ‘low’ speed desert runs

   1. Early 2010

   Design iterations

   1. Mid-late 2010

   22 ‘medium’ speed desert runs

   1. Early 2011

   Design iterations

   1. Mid-late 2011

   25 ‘full’ speed desert runs