THIS DAY IN HISTORY: NASA’s Hyper-X Program Achieves Record Flight with Hypersonic Speeds Above 7,000 MPH or Mach 9.6

By  //  November 17, 2020

November 17, 2004

ABOVE VIDEO: NASA X-43 Flight Animation Hypersonic Scramjet X-Plane.

(NASA) – Researchers in NASA’s Hyper-X program sought to validate key propulsion and other technologies for air-breathing hypersonic aircraft. Unlike rocket-powered vehicles like the Space Shuttle, scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) powered vehicles do not have to carry their own oxidizer.

As a result, aircraft can be smaller and lighter, or be the same size but carry more payload.

Years of research culminated in the record-breaking flight of the X-43A scramjet on November 17, 2004.

About an hour before the flight, X-43A Monitor Station Operator Brad Neal, pictured here, performed final checks and pre-flight preparations.

Researchers in NASA’s Hyper-X program sought to validate key propulsion and other technologies for air-breathing hypersonic aircraft. Unlike rocket-powered vehicles like the Space Shuttle, scramjet (supersonic combustion ramjet) powered vehicles do not have to carry their own oxidizer. (NASA Image)
The aircraft achieved hypersonic speeds above Mach 9.6, or about 7, 000 mph! (NASA Image)

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