] California -- NASA has made aeronautics history by
] launching an experimental jet that reached a record
] velocity of just over seven times the speed of sound.
]
] Fifty-seven years after test pilot Chuck Yeager broke the
] sound barrier, NASA on Saturday launched the unpiloted
] research jet, in a development some observers say could
] change the future of space travel.
]
] It is the first time a supersonic-combustion ramjet, or
] scramjet, which uses air for fuel, had traveled so fast,
] flight engineer Lawrence Huebner told reporters.
]
] Scientists hope such jets will make space travel more
] affordable and spur commercial ventures.

WOOOOOSH! -LB