Nasa's Mach 7 technology
The US space's experimental hypersonic research aircraft, the X-43A, could one day revolutionise long-distance travel.
The unpiloted 3.7m-long vehicle uses a scramjet to reach a design speed in excess of Mach 7, more than 8,000 km/h (5,000 mph).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3572909.stm