The X-51A Waverider blasted itself into the longest hypersonic flight in history yesterday, streaking across the sky at Mach 5 for just over 200 seconds. That's 10 times longer than the previous record, set in 2004 by NASA's X-43. While the X-51A has already flown a couple of times while remaining attached to its mother ship, this was the first time the unmanned plane flew independently.
Hypersonic flight, defined as faster than Mach 5 (around 3,800 mph), is not easy. Conventional turbine jet engines can't handle such tremendous speeds. To complete its hypersonic flight, the 14-foot-long Waverider launched from the wing of a B-52 over the Pacific Ocean, and with the help of a solid rocket booster, screamed up to Mach 4.8 before that booster was jettisoned. [Read more...]
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