X-43 Hyper-X Program Video Gallery

NASA is using the Hyper-X vehicles to test propulsion technologies that could be applied to future reusable space launchers and hypersonic aircraft.
While vehicles with conventional rocket engines carry oxygen on board, the air-breathing Hyper-X vehicles ingest and compress oxygen from the atmosphere using the vehicle airframe.
This type of propulsion system could potentially increase payload capacity on future vehicles since no onboard supply of oxidizer would be required.