NASA's X43 Scramjet to Reach Mach 10

[i l l m a t i c]

NASA is set to launch a jet over the Pacific Ocean today that will be ten times the speed of sound or approximately 7,000 miles per hour! The X-43 scramjet is expected to reach Mach 10 and maintain it for 10 seconds. The unmanned jet measures 12 feet long and 5 feet wide and will be lifted into the air by a Pegasus rocket. The rocket will take the plane up to 110,000 feet where then the plane will take off on its own.

 

"What we're trying to do is really get to the reality of flight — find out what does work, what doesn't work. So there is risk in this program. We fully anticipate that we've reduced that risk to acceptable levels but you never are sure, especially in doing something for the first time, going Mach 10, until we actually fly." said Vince Rausch, the program manager of the Hyper-X program.

 

The X-43A will be launched today at 1:00 P.M. Pacific Time.

[Gryph]

Pft...I can run faster than that. LAME!