I think we’re going to see some big developments in the pace of hypersonic research before year’s end. HASTE looks like a gamechanger.

The U.S. government is clearly moving to address the gaps in our national development programs and a lack of launch opportunities (prior to HASTE) is just one of them. There are supply chain, manufacturing, research, even challenges in development of the personnel needed to stand up efforts in all of these areas. China, seeking to seize the destabilizing potential of hypersonics, has been more focused. While the U.S. government can be, and often is, slow to recognize an opportunity, it can move with astounding effect to close a gap when that gap poses a very real challenge to its power. I think we’re seeing that shift now.