X-43A Hyper-X

The X-43A Hyper-X was an experimental hypersonic flight research program conducted by the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. The multi-year program sought to demonstrate the viability of "air-breathing" scramjet engine technologies that could significantly increase payload capacity for future vehicles, hypersonic aircraft and reusable space launchers.

By definition, a hypersonic aircraft is one that travels faster than Mach 5. By using scramjet technology, as opposed to...