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Hypersonic jet destroyed
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THE first prototype of an aircraft intended to revolutionize travel and shatter speed records was destroyed during its maiden flight on Saturday after a booster rocket carrying it aloft veered out of control and tumbled from the sky.
US space scientists were forced to destroy the unmanned X-43A prototype in mid-air just minutes before the plane was due to fire the oxygen-scooping “scramjet” engine designed to drive it at seven times the speed of sound.
NASA cameras aboard two F-18 chase planes showed the Pegasus rocket careening off course and falling out of control from the sky before controllers triggered on-board explosives to destroy it over the Pacific Ocean at about 4.45pm.
Pieces of the booster rocket and the small, black X-43A prototype, part of NASA's “Hyper-X” programme, fell into the sea.
The X43-A was making the first of three scheduled test flights in the Hyper-X programme, which NASA has said will ultimately making space travel routine and pave the way for cross-country commercial flights in 30 minutes.
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