GLL-8 (GLL-VK), nicknamed "Igla" (eng. needle), is a Russian hypersonic flight flying laboratory. It saw its first flight in 2005. It is part of Russia's ongoing ORYOL-2-1 research programme. Under ORYOL-2-1, the Gromov Flight Research Institute in Moscow has developed two possible Igla designs, and is leading an SSTO spaceplane effort and a two-stage-to-orbit design conceived to build a "Mir-2" space station.Advanced aerospace systems with intercontinental and global range of flight
Purpose The purpose of this "flying laboratory" is technical data study of hypersonic speeds, which cannot be done with average engines, and other crewed experimental flight-craft. This study includes the following:
Aerodynamic properties at hyper sonic speeds Maneuverability at different speeds G-force effects on fuselage at high speeds Scramjet studies
Vehicles associated with the GLL-8
Vehicle Speed Altitude Length Mass Firing duration Details GLL-31 Mach 2-9 18–35 km 8 m 3,800 kg 50 s Aircraft dropped, hydrogen-fueled scramjet engine GLL-8 (GLL-VK) Mach 15 70 km 8 m 2,200 kg 20-50 s Rocket-launched, hydrogen-fueled three-mode scramjet engine GLL-AP-02 Mach 6 27 km 3 m 550–600 kg Missing data Hydrocarbon-based fueled ramjet prototype for high-altitude test stand tests
References
Russian Spaceweb "Igla" (Russian) "Testpilot" page (Russian)