NASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Hyper-X Program
There is development underway for engines which operate at high altitudes, scooping up thin air and combining it with hydrogen. Flow through these engines runs at supersonic speeds as does their ignition process. Planes with these engines could potentially fly at mach 15.
PROCSIMA: Diffractionless Beamed Propulsion
If you can't build a space elevator why not build the next best thing? Build a laser elevator!
Video below has some other interesting developments in flight:
There is development underway for engines which operate at high altitudes, scooping up thin air and combining it with hydrogen. Flow through these engines runs at supersonic speeds as does their ignition process. Planes with these engines could potentially fly at mach 15.
PROCSIMA: Diffractionless Beamed Propulsion
If you can't build a space elevator why not build the next best thing? Build a laser elevator!
Video below has some other interesting developments in flight: