The X-43A test was almost delayed by gusty winds and B52 fuel issues...
But, Nasa successfully flew its experimental X-43A research vehicle. The flight is part of the Hyper-X programme.
To test the concept of a scramjet engine, a 10-second firing sent it to the edge of space.
Initial indications are that the craft appeared to meet its milestone of propelling itself to Mach 7 , (seven times the speed of sound), on paper it has a top speed of 10,000 km/h!
The craft began gliding and conducting a series of high-speed maneuvers before CRASHING into the sea at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Sea Range , off the coast of southern California. Because of the expense of recovery, there are no plans to retrieve the X-43A...
On Nasa tv right now...
Cool!
http://www.nasa.gov/ram/35037main_portal.ram
