NASA’s experimental X-43A Hyper X hypersonic research vehicle shatters the speed record for an air-breathing vehicle when it flies to nearly 10 times the speed of sound. Flying from Edwards AFB, Calif., NASA’s B-52B mothership transports the X-43A to a launch location off the Pacific coast.
When the Air Force sets a new program baseline for the B-52 re-engining this fall, there will be “some” cost increase, because the project wasn't previously fully funded, and the Air Force has a better handle on actual supplier costs and knowledge from ground testing, program officials said.