[MilCom] NASA X-43A Launch Today!!

[Keith Stein]

The final flight of NASA's X-43A hypersonic research aircraft is still on 
schedule for this afternoon weather permitting. The mission is intended to 
flight-validate the operation of the X-43A's supersonic-combustion ramjet - 
or scramjet - engine at a record airspeed of almost Mach 10, or 10 times 
the speed of sound. The final X-43A mission is also expected to be the last 
research mission for NASA's venerable B-52B "mothership" heavy launch 
aircraft, which is due to be retired.

Takeoff is tentatively scheduled for about 1 p.m. Pacific time (4 p.m. 
Eastern time), with launch about an hour later over the Pacific test range 
off the coast of Southern California.

The NASA B-52 (radio call sign "NASA 008") will leave Edwards Air Force 
Base, Calif., and pass over Gorman, Calif., then Gaviota, Calif., before it 
enters Warning Area 289 over the Pacific Ocean.