World Speed Record Broken

[Dunenewt]

A NASA research plane, the X-43A has broken the speed record going at over seven times the speed of sound.

[Andrew]

I can see them now using it as commercial transportation. The new and improved Concordes.

[Dunenewt]

No that won't happen for a long time.  It can only use its engine for a few seconds and plus Concorde was way ahead of its time and still is and we won't see anything similar until it becomes economically viable.

And I don't advise doing an image search for it on google.com

[thomas]

here it is;

[Dunenewt]

That is the one which flew on 2001 before losing control and crashing but they look the same.

[Dunenewt]

Just thought I'd post this because its quite interesting:

Key:

Voyager 1

Voyager 2

Distance from the Sun (Km)

13,630,000,000

10,863,000,000

Distance from the Sun (Mi)

8,469,000,000

6,750,000,000

Distance from the Earth (Km)

13,656,000,000

10,958,000,000

Distance from the Earth (Mi)

8,485,000,000

6,809,000,000

Total Distance Traveled Since Launch (Km)

15,484,000,000

14,542,000,000

Total Distance Traveled Since Launch (Mi)

9,621,000,000

9,036,000,000

Velocity Relative to Sun  (Km/sec)

17.200

15.662

Velocity Relative to Sun  (Mi/hr)

38,474

35,034

Velocity Relative to Earth  (Km/sec)

20.441

27.929

Velocity Relative to Earth  (Mi/hr)

45,724

62,474

Round Trip Light Time (hh:mm:ss)

25:17:32

20:18:16

[Inoculator9]

Pretty good looking ship. Doesn't strike me as viable for much of anything though.

[Dunenewt]

Its the basis for a bomber called Hypersoar.

[fremfedeliteNIAC]

Sounds crazy. wern't they going to make a nuclear powered bomber too, or are making one now or somthing so it can fly around for months.