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NASA to Attempt Mach 10 Flight Next Week

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the hello-john-val-says-hi dept.

Dirak writes "NASA intends to break its own aircraft-speed record for the second time this year by flying X43a scramjet ten times faster than sound. On November 15 the X-43A supersonic-combustion ramjet - or scramjet - will again take to the skies aiming for Mach 10."

2 of 357 comments (clear)

  1. wow by ViperG · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Going straight to 10. From Mach 6.83 to 10! yeah thats pretty fast.

    --
    Black Sky
    2D Elite Inspired Game
  2. Very Cool, But... by shaneh0 · · Score: 1, Redundant

    While I agree that an engine that's running at supersonic speeds on the *inside* is maybe the coolest engine ever built, I wonder what real-world application NASA sees in this.

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but this thing wouldn't work any better in space then the engine in my Volvo. If the only applictaion is high performance aircraft (Air Force Fighters) why isn't it being developed by DARPA, leaving NASAs (much smaller) budget for projects that might actually benefit space exploration?