NASA Hyper-X Program

NASA’s Hyper-X was a managed hypersonic research program conducted jointly by Langley and Dryden. Beginning with design and wind-tunnel work in 1996, it built three uncrewed X-43A articles to test airframe-integrated scramjet propulsion. After the unsuccessful 2001 attempt, two 2004 flights demonstrated powered air-breathing flight at Mach 6.8 and Mach 9.6.

Identity

Aliases: Hyper-XNASA Hyper-XX-43A Hyper-X Program
Domains: aviation
Name: NASA Hyper-X Program
Status: completed
Types: researchdevelopment

Details

Description: NASA’s Hyper-X was a managed hypersonic research program conducted jointly by Langley and Dryden. Beginning with design and wind-tunnel work in 1996, it built three uncrewed X-43A articles to test airframe-integrated scramjet propulsion. After the unsuccessful 2001 attempt, two 2004 flights demonstrated powered air-breathing flight at Mach 6.8 and Mach 9.6.
End Date: 2004
Leads
Participants: -
Start Date: 1996

Assets & Meta

Creation Time: October 29, 2026 at 16:02:46 UTC
Updated Time: October 29, 2026 at 16:02:46 UTC

Other

Official Urls: https://www.nasa.gov/reference/x-43a/https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasas-x-43a-scramjet-breaks-speed-record/