News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Superfast military plane hit Mach 20 before crash. Parent comment

Re:Superfast military plane hit Mach 20 before crash by blackguardx on Sunday August 21, 2011 @09:34PM (#2910902)
I think this is why they are called "ballistic missiles." They fall to earth as if they were an artillery round.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Superfast military plane hit Mach 20 before crash by dredmorbius on Monday August 22, 2011 @01:59AM (#2911489)
That and the fact that most of the flight is in an unpowered, "ballistic" mode, rather than powered for the full duration.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Superfast military plane hit Mach 20 before crash by jasonwatkinspdx on Monday August 22, 2011 @11:57AM (#2912867)
True, but there are things we could call ballistic that are low drag (they also are likely low lift). A typical pointy artillery shell being a great example.
[ Parent | on HN ]