"Jay Masino" wrote in message news:419c904b$0

The excitement is about the technology. I think the press is making a
bigger thing about the "record" than NASA really cares about. The ability
to run a jet engine, at close to Mach 10, without bringing along an
oxygen tank, is the REAL achievement.

Exactly. All they care about is the proof of concept, although I'd be
surprised if it hasn't already been done out there. (Kinda like Cassini.)

-c