Andy Green, the Royal Air Force pilot who drove the jet-propelled car ThrustSSC, breaking the sound barrier while setting the World Land Speed Record at 1,228 km/h back in 1997, has just announced that he will be driving its successor Bloodhound SSC, as he attempts to break his record in October 2017.

The new Bloodhound SSC is a vehicle designed to not only to go faster than the speed of sound (supersonic) but exceed 1,600km/h. It will cover a mile in just 3.6 seconds. Approximately 13.4m long and weighing 7.5 tonnes, its design is a mix of automotive and aircraft technology, with the front section consisting of a carbon fibre monocoque (like a racing car) and the rear portion formed by metallic framework and panels (like an aircraft). The two front wheels sit within the body while the two rear wheels are mounted externally within wheel fairings.

Powered by both a jet engine and a rocket, the SSC will have command of more than 135,000 horsepower: that’s more than eight times the power of all the 2016 Formula 1 cars on a starting grid put together. With over 110 man-years of effort invested in the SSC’s design, build and manufacture, it is without a doubt, the most complicated car ever built. When finished, it will comprise over 3,500 parts (and 22,500 rivets), many of which were designed and manufactured uniquely for this car.

Last but not least, is the educational value of the project. It is first and foremost an education project designed to inspire future generations to take up careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by showcasing these subjects in the most exciting way possible. Any school or teacher in the world can register on the Bloodhound SSC website and download the free curriculum resource materials of the educational programme. It is inspiring to imagine a future of exceptionally meaningful technological developments traced back to the Bloodhound SSC.