On May 26, the US Air Force tested its X-51A Waverider, which flew 200 seconds at Mach 6—six times the speed of sound—setting a new record. The previous record was 12 seconds. The unmanned craft, which is almost wingless, launched from a B-52 bomber and plunged into the ocean at the end of its run, as planned. The craft could have many applications, including space exploration and commercial transportation.
