NOTE TO EDITORS: X-38 RESUMES FLIGHT TESTS WITH NEW DROGUE CHUTE July 7, 1999 Release: 99-21 Printer Friendly Version
A free flight test of the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle prototype is scheduled for Friday July 9 at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. Live television coverage of the test flight begins at 8 a.m. PDT on NASA TV.
The test will be the fourth free flight of the test vehicles in the X-38 program, and the second free flight test of Vehicle 132 or Ship 2. The goal of this test flight is to release the vehicle from a higher altitude-31,500 and flying the vehicle longer-31 seconds. The project team also will conduct aerodynamic verification maneuvers and check improvements made to the drogue parachute.
Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas with Dryden playing an important role in support of flight testing the X-38 vehicles, sponsors the X-38 program. The atmospheric tests of the X-38 began in July 1997. To date there have been three free-flights of two vehicles. Vehicle 131 or Ship 1 made its first flight on March 12, 1998 and its final flight on Feb. 6, 1999. Vehicle 132 or Ship 2 completed its first on March 5, 1999. In the first test, the vehicle was released from the B-52 at 25, 000 feet. The primary objective of that test was to find out how well the vehicle's parafoil would work.
Atmospheric drop tests of the X-38 will continue at Dryden for the next three years using increasingly complex test vehicles. The free flights will increase in altitude to a height of 45,000 feet and include longer flight times for the test craft before deployment of the parafoil. In 2001, an unpiloted space test vehicle will be deployed from the Space Shuttle and descend to a landing.
Media wishing to cover this event will be able to view the drop test from a control room and conduct interviews with project officials after the test is completed. Media planning to view the flight test should arrive at the Dryden Public Affairs Office Building 4839 no later than 7:15 a.m. For more information call Fred Brown at (661) 258-2663.
NASA-TV is on GE-2, transponder 9C, located at 85 degrees West longitude, with vertical polarization. Frequency will be on 3880 megahertz with audio on 6.8 megahertz.
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