Technology update

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July 2007

Getting fired up for hypersonic flight

The X-51A program, managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory Propulsion Directorate, is a consortium of the U.S. Air Force, DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), NASA, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) to demonstrate hypersonic flight capability and scramjet engine technology within the Mach 4.5 to 6.5 range. In late May, the X-51A WaveRider scramjet engine demonstrator completed a critical design review (CDR) and fired its engine for the first time—two major program milestones necessary for first flight.
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