Bloodhound Supersonic Car Set To Break Land Speed Record, Hit 1,000 MPH

Sep 25, 2015 10:10 AM EDT | John Nassivera

The Bloodhound project is being brought back to set a new world land speed record with a rock-powered car designed to hit 1,000 mph in 55 seconds.

The Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC) made its debut Thursday and will be driven by Royal Air Force pilot Andy Green, who set the current record of 763 mph- faster than the speed of sound- in Nevada back in 1997, according to AFP.

Green will first attempt to reach 800 mph next year in South Africa before trying to reach 1,000 mph in 2017.

"We want to set the bar so high that it will be very difficult for anyone to take it," project director Richard Noble said.

The SSC stretches 44 feet long and comes with a two-meter high tail fin at the end for stability, CNN reported. Other features include a Rolls-Royce EJ200 jet engine, Nammo hybrid rockets and a supercharged Jaguar V8 engine that drives the rocket oxidizer pump.

The Bloodhound team spent eight years build the car, which involved a team of Formula 1 and aerospace experts working with the British Royal Air Force and Army engineers.

Setting a new record will not be the end for the project, as the Bloodhound team also wants to inspire kids to become engineers and experts in fields such as science, technology and math, according to CNN.

The Bloodound's educational project will involve over 100,000 children from 6,000 schools in Britain and 1,000 in South Africa, AFP reported. The team is visiting schools around the world to talk to students about the car.

"Kids respond very well, set up rocket clubs, do more maths," said Krisy Allpress from the Bloodhound Education Team.

Londoners interested in the SSC can check the car out at the city's Canary Wharf from now until Sunday.

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