NASA 'Scramjet' to Launch on Mach 10 Flight Today

Posted on: Nov. 15th, 2004 || Source: atsnn.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

NASA 'Scramjet' to Launch on Mach 10 Flight Today

NASA will conduct the third and final test flight of the hypersonic X-43A research aircraft. If the test is successful, it will beat the record set on March 27 by another X-43A, which flew "flawlessly" for 11 seconds, attaining speeds of seven times the speed of sound, or Mach 7.
A NASA B-52B heavy launch aircraft will take off from Edwards Air Base at 1pm PST (21:00 GMT) carrying a Pegasus booster rocket, with the X-43A attached to it, under its right wing to an altitude of 12,000m.

The X-43A and its booster will then separate from the B-52B and launch to an altitude of 29,000m (110,000 ft), where the scramjet engine will ignite, propelling the X-43A at Mach 10 for about 10 seconds.

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