SCI/TECH: X-43a hypersonic research vehicle reaches Mach 7

The X-43 hypersonic research vehicle reached Mach 7 in the mission's second test flight.
Almost three years ago, during the first test flight, the rocket span out of control and had to be ordered to blow itself up. Just after the mission is became clear that some flight data had been lost, but the vehicle did pass Mach 5.

Space.com: Making History: NASA's X-43A Scramjet Streaks Across Sky

Aviation history was made today as NASA successfully flew its experimental X-43A research vehicle, a forerunner of craft that could well offer alternate access to space in the future.

NASA X-43 mission overview

Related news stories
BBC
Bloomberg

Related ATS Forum discussions
X-43A flight this Saturday. (27th)
Cause of X-43A Hyper-X Crash Identified



[Edited on 28-3-2004 by Kano]

Yah, finally!!!!!!

heres a picture of when it was dropped from the planes wing .


www.villagephotos.com...

[Edited on 27-3-2004 by ShadowMan]

I turned on Fox News right when they were showing live feed. Sure was pretty cool. That damn rocket was really fast. Chubby cheek smacking fast!

So will Gillette make a new razor now?

HEY YO!
THERE IS AN AURORA IN THE TOP PICTURE!!! (btw, it that a real pic or comp generated?)

The black vehicle is the X-43a, the white one is the solid booster.

Good show, but I'd like to see what goes on behind the scenes.

[Edited on 27-3-2004 by Condorcet]

www.tvbn.org...




www.tvbn.org...

Full Mpeg of the above. Its no bird
www.tvbn.org...


Maybe some 911 information is way above top secret and this is why the National Security Exec Privilege is being played. .

X43a 5000mph test today successful

Is the X43a the Aurora?

And exactly how fats is Mach 5?

I watched the official press release and it said the X-43 reached mach 7.

Originally posted by dangermouse
The black vehicle is the X-43a, the white one is the solid booster.

Strange how the 2 look exactly alike

It is my understanding it reached Mach 7. Can some one confirm this?

I herd Mach 7 from the Official news confrence on NASA TV. It aired at 4:00 pm pst.

The AURORA is nuke power don't believe the cover of the pulse rocket or engine. Main issue with AURORA is it can go nuclure if it were to crash. So it gets tested over water ie.. the pacific from Edwards. What the X-43a is work toward a commercial app for super sonic flight. learn more About the SR-71 and its true speed before making the mistake that the X-43a is really fast. The AURORA is the next SR-71.

Yes it was actually Mach 7 and not Mach 5.

Here is the CNN article and the following is a quote:

"It was fun all the way to Mach 7," said Joel Sitz, project manager at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center.

Originally posted by jetsetter
I watched the official press release and it said the X-43 reached mach 7.

yes, it did reached Mach 7.
Just after the mission was over they said that some flight data had been lost, but it did reach Mach 5.

I didn't saw the press confrence...

[Edited on 28-3-2004 by Zion Mainframe]

The plane is nice and it looks nice lol. They said it will be avalibale to citizens in about 20 years for commercil flight.

It seems a couple of you are confused. This was the 2nd flight test for the X-43A. The original flight test failed, as they did not reach Mach 7 (as this site states, some data was lost, but it DID reach Mach 5, which is still amazingly fast). Here's some info on how fast that actually is for those of you who cannot figure it out on your own:

speed of sound at sea level = 340.29m/s (m = meters)
1 mile = 1,609.344 meters

Mach 1 = 340.29m/s // 761.207mph
Mach 2 = 680.58m/s // 1,522.414mph
Mach 3 = 1,020.87m/s // 2,283.621mph
Mach 4 = 1,361.16m/s // 3,044.828mph
Mach 5 = 1,701.45m/s // 3,806.035mph

darpa is going to go into this with mach 5/50
don't know it for sure but on the darpa webpage
I found this one its saying under construction but it has to go about this same topic.
www.darpa.mil...