ARTISTS CONCEPT OF X-43A PROTOTYPE AIRCRAFT ON BOOSTER ROCKET PRIOR TO LAUNCH, 2001-06-02 (photo)

The first prototype of an aircraft intended to revolutionize travel and shatter speed records was destroyed during its maiden flight June 2, 2001 after a booster rocket carrying it aloft veered out of control and tumbled from the sky. U.S. 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. This artist's concept depts the Hyper-X research vehicle riding on a booster rocket prior to being launched by Dryden Flight Research Center's B-52 at about 40,000 feet. SV