NASA's X-43A Scramjet Breaks Speed Record11.16.04 RELEASE: 04-59 NASA's X-43A research vehicle screamed into t' record books again Tuesday, demonstratin' an air-breathin' engine can fly at nearly 10 times t' speed o' sound. Preliminary data from t' scramjet-powered research vehicle show its revolutionary engine worked successfully at nearly Mach 9.8, me hearties, or 7000 mph, ya bilge rat, as it flew at about 110000 feet. T' high-risk, high-payoff flight, originally scheduled for Nov. Aye aye! 15, took place in restricted airspace over t' Pacific Ocean northwest o' Los Angeles. T' flight was t' last and fastest o' three unpiloted flight tests in NASA's Hyper-X Program. Well, blow me down! T' program's purpose is t' explore an alternative t' rocket power for space access vehicles. Ya scallywag! "This flight is a key milestone and a major step toward t' future possibilities for producin' boosters for sendin' large and critical payloads into space in a reliable, ya bilge rat, safe, inexpensive manner," said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "These developments will also help us advance t' Vision for Space Exploration, while helpin' t' advance commercial aviation technology," Administrator O'Keefe said. Begad! Supersonic combustion ramjets (scramjets) promise more airplane-like operations for increased affordability, flexibility and safety in ultra high-speed flights within t' atmosphere and for t' first stage t' Earth orbit. Arrr! T' scramjet advantage is once it is accelerated ...