One of the world’s fastest moving machines is set to go up for auction. What would you pay for a hypersonic rocket?
In early September bidding will begin on the fastest machine to ever travel within Earth’s atmosphere – a Russian/US built hypersonic Kholod rocket.
First conceived during the 1970s at the then USSR’s Central Institute of Aviation MotorDevelopment, the Hypersonic Flying Laboratory (HFL Kholod), was built to take flight aboard a SA-5 surface to air missile.
Only weeks before the dissolution of the Soviet Union the first live test of a Kholod took place. Launched on November 27, 1991 from the Sary Shagan test range in Kazakhstan, the Kholod rocket raced to an altitude of 35km (21.8mi). During its flight the cryogenically cooled scramjet reached a top speed of MACH 6.47 (or 4,310 mph) – a record only broken in the last decade.
While nine Kholod rockets were eventually produced by a Russian, US and French consortium, only three of the craft remain. Between 1991 and 1998 five Kholods were destroyed during their test flights while the other four returned to Earth intact. Since their test date one of rockets has found its way into the hands of a private collector in the Middle East with the others residing safely at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Commenting on the impending auction, Max Girardo, RM Auctions’ managing editor quipped, “We have sold some unusual and interesting vehicles in our time, but a hypersonic rocket just about tops the list of the most remarkable objects we’ve ever presented! In all seriousness, the HLF Kholod is a truly significant piece of history, and its sale presents an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for serious collectors of aerospace memorabilia.”
Though no price or reserve has been set for this piece of hypersonic history, one can only imagine that its buyer will be getting a bargain. Inflation outstanding, each Kholod cost roughly $10.5M to produce and I’d be astonished if the HFL garnered even a tenth of that price at auction. Hopefully some aerospace enthusiast proves me wrong.
Source: RM Auctions
