The X-15 experimental aircraft achieved its first hypersonic flight on June 23, 1961, soaring at speeds over five times the speed of sound. Later, the X-43A reached about 7,000 mph using innovative engines that harnessed atmospheric oxygen. For nearly eight decades, NASA Armstrong has been at the forefront of high-speed research, achieving these and many other milestones. Today, our engineers are developing technologies to make space access safer and more affordable, and to bring routine commerc

237K views · 13K reactions | On 7 June 2013, the X3 demonstrator...

NASA took a major step toward redefining high-speed flight on Nov. 16, 2004. The X-43A, a small, experimental aircraft, proved that an engine drawing oxygen from the atmosphere could propel an aircraft to hypersonic speeds – greater than Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. During the flight over the Pacific Ocean west of California, the X-43A set the world speed record for a jet-powered aircraft, reaching Mach 9.6, or nearly 7,000 mph. The mission originated from NASA’s Armstrong Flight Re

1.8K reactions · 95 shares | The X-43A was a small, unmanned test...