NASA X-43A Hyper-X Hypersonic Experimental Vehicle Family
The NASA X-43A Hyper-X was a series of three unpiloted hypersonic research aircraft that demonstrated air-breathing scramjet propulsion in free flight. Each lifting-body vehicle was designed for a single test mission; the second aircraft reached Mach 6.8 and the third reached Mach 9.6 in 2004, establishing the first successful scramjet-powered aircraft flights.
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Identity
- Aliases
- X-43AHyper-XX-43A Hyper-XHypersonic Experimental VehicleHyper-X Research Vehicle
- Family Name
- NASA X-43A Hyper-X
- Full Name
- NASA X-43A Hyper-X Hypersonic Experimental Vehicle Family
- Roles
- researchexperimentaltechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Description
- The NASA X-43A Hyper-X was a series of three unpiloted hypersonic research aircraft that demonstrated air-breathing scramjet propulsion in free flight. Each lifting-body vehicle was designed for a single test mission; the second aircraft reached Mach 6.8 and the third reached Mach 9.6 in 2004, establishing the first successful scramjet-powered aircraft flights.
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- airframe
- Propulsion System
- Role
- main
- Stage
- airframe
- Variant Notes
- One integrated X-43A scramjet test installation; the three vehicles were uncrewed research articles and the propulsion identity represents the whole airframe-integrated system.
- Name
- NASA X-43A airframe-integrated scramjet installation
- Notes
- NASA's X-43A propulsion was airframe-integrated: gaseous hydrogen fuel and atmospheric air supported scramjet operation after modified Pegasus booster separation. The B-52 carrier aircraft and booster are launch and acceleration systems, not installed X-43A propulsion. NASA's flight-test material records approximately ten seconds of scramjet operation after booster separation.
Links
- Official Url
- https://www.nasa.gov/reference/x-43a/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 15, 2026 at 03:24:10 UTC
- Updated Time
- September 7, 2026 at 22:50:27 UTC