NASA X-43A
Specs, top speed, range and facts
The NASA X-43A is a hypersonic scramjet research drone built by NASA in the USA. It first flew in 2004, but it never entered regular service. Prove that a scramjet, an engine that breathes air, can push an aircraft to many times the speed of sound.
- Top speed11,000 km/h (6,835 mph)
- Range500 km (311 miles)
- First flight2004
- Wingspan1.5 m (5 ft)
NASA X-43A specs
| Top speed | 11,000 km/h (6,835 mph) · Mach 10.36Mach 9.6, nearly 7,000 mph, in November 2004. |
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| Range | 500 km (311 miles)Not published. This is a rough estimate. |
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| Length | 3.7 m (12 ft) |
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| Wingspan | 1.5 m (5 ft) |
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| Max takeoff weight | 1.36 t (2,998 lb) |
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| Crew and capacity | No crew: it is a robot plane |
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| Engines | 1 × scramjet (an air-breathing engine for hypersonic speed) |
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| First flight | 2004 |
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| Entered service | Never entered regular service |
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| Built by | NASA (USA) |
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NASA X-43A facts
- In 2004 it flew at Mach 9.6, nearly 7,000 mph: a world record for a jet-powered aircraft.
- A B-52 carried it up, a rocket pushed it to top speed, and then its scramjet engine burned for about 10 seconds.
Quick quiz
When did the NASA X-43A first fly?
In 2004.
Who built the NASA X-43A?
NASA, in the USA.
How fast can the NASA X-43A fly?
Its top speed is 11,000 km/h (6,835 mph) · Mach 10.36.
How far can the NASA X-43A fly?
About 500 km (311 miles).
Photos, a true-scale silhouette, quizzes, flashcards, the Size Lab and the Sky Run game.
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