What Is Hypersonic Speed? — Mach 5 and Beyond
Blog › Physics · 8 min read · Published 2026-03-02
Learn what defines hypersonic speed and the physics challenges above Mach 5.
Speed Regimes
- Subsonic: below Mach 1
- Supersonic: Mach 1.2–5
- Hypersonic: Mach 5–25
- Near-Orbital: above Mach 25
What's Different at Mach 5+?
Extreme heating (1,500°C+), air ionization, thin shock layers, and chemical dissociation of air molecules.