{Radio} Sexbomb – the hypersonic space plane
Any story that starts out explaining that the reason this prototype Mach 5 space plane is called sex bomb is because if it hits anything it will explode like a bomb, has got to be a great way for Hong Kong Radio 3’s Phil Whelan and I to start our weekly on-air chat of all things future and new.
We also took a look at the history and possible future of water transport on the 196th anniversary of the opening of America’s Erie Canal and took a look at Facebook’s rumoured name change on the back of the conversation we had a few week’s back of it wanting to leave social media behind and move into the Metaverse.
As always a fun segment, listen now
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a hypersonic space plane and why does it matter geopolitically?
A hypersonic space plane combines aircraft and spacecraft capabilities — able to operate in both atmosphere and low Earth orbit. The military application is a vehicle that can strike anywhere on Earth within 90 minutes from any launch point, evading current missile defence systems. The US, China, and Russia are all in active development. This changes the strategic calculus of deterrence fundamentally.
Q: What is the dual-use potential of hypersonic space plane technology?
The same vehicle that delivers a warhead can deliver a satellite, a rescue mission, or eventually passengers. The civilian applications — rapid point-to-point transport, responsive satellite deployment, space tourism — are real but secondary to the military investment driving development. As with most aerospace technology, civilian applications follow military investment.
Q: What does hypersonic weapon development mean for arms control?
Significant challenge. Existing arms control frameworks assume detection timelines that hypersonic systems compress below the threshold for diplomatic response. The flight profiles also blur the distinction between conventional and nuclear delivery — a hypersonic missile approaching a city cannot be distinguished as nuclear or conventional until detonation.
Q: Can Morris Misel present on defence technology futures, geopolitics, and dual-use technology?
Yes. Geopolitical foresight and defence-adjacent technology are topics he addresses for appropriate corporate and government audiences. Book at morrismisel.com.
Any story that starts out explaining that the reason this prototype Mach 5 space plane is called sex bomb is because if it hits anything it will explode like a bomb, has got to be a great way for Hong Kong Radio 3’s Phil Whelan and I to start our weekly on-air chat of all [].
When signals like Sexbomb the hypersonic space plane emerge, organisations that engage early have the advantage of choosing their response rather than reacting to events. That gap between those who prepared and those who did not is where competitive positioning is actually made or lost.
The most important question is not whether Sexbomb the hypersonic space plane will matter, but how quickly it will matter in your specific context. Leaders benefit most from mapping the ripple effects early — not just the direct impact but the second and third-order consequences that arrive later and hit harder. That is the practical work of foresight.
