X-43A: The Close to Mach 10 Hypersonic Plane NASA Ditched

X-43: NASA Decided to 'End' This Mach 9.64 Gamechanger Hypersonic Plane

This rare footage shows NASA testing the X-43A, an experimental uncrewed hypersonic research aircraft developed under the Hyper-X program. Because a scramjet engine cannot produce thrust at low speeds, the X-43A could not take off on its own. Instead, it was carried aloft beneath a B-52B Stratofortress, then released and accelerated by a Pegasus rocket booster. The booster propelled the vehicle to hypersonic speed—over Mach 5—before separating. Only after separation did the X-43A ignite its hydr