Boeing X-43

The Boeing X-43 is an experimental unmanned aircraft developed by NASA and Boeing to test high-speed flight technologies. It was designed to reach speeds over Mach 7 (about 5,300 miles per hour), which is much faster than traditional aircraft. The X-43 used a rocket booster to accelerate to its top speed, then the vehicle's own engines continued to propel it at hypersonic speeds. These tests aimed to advance future space travel and missile technology by understanding how crafts behave at extreme velocities and temperatures, paving the way for faster, more efficient aircraft and space access.