ramjet

A scramjet is a supersonic combustion ramjet involving combustion that uses the forward speed of the aircraft as part of its propulsion.

This makes ramjet missiles suitable for firing in the atmosphere, but near or through space like rockets.

Another daunting challenge is the supersonic combustion ramjet, — or “scramjet” — engine that powers hypersonic cruise missiles such as those in the Air Force’s conventional strike weapon contract.

Development of a larger scramjet engine — formally known as a supersonic combustion ramjet — also has been challenging.

There’s plenty of hypothetical innovation, too: ramjet fusion machines, antimatter engines and “laser porting” of human connectomes to enable bodiless exploration of the cosmos.