Press Conference for Upcoming HYPER-X Flight Scheduled
March 17, 2004
Release: 04-12
-NASA-
Note to Editors: A news media briefing to outline plans for the upcoming X-43A flight is set for Wednesday, March 24, at 2 p.m. PST at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The second unpiloted X-43A research vehicle in NASA’s Hyper-X program is tentatively planned to fly on Saturday, March 27, 2004.
Key program and project officials including Hyper-X program manager Vince Rausch from NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., and X-43A flight test project manager Joel Sitz from Dryden will outline the program and research flight. Representatives of the industry team who have played a major role in the program also will be available to respond to questions. The news briefing will be carried on NASA Television, and reporters at participating NASA centers around the country will be able to ask questions.
Designed to fly from seven to 10 times the speed of sound, using air-breathing scramjet engines instead of traditional rocket power, the small, 12-foot-long X-43A could represent a major leap forward in the goal of providing faster, more reliable and less expensive access to space.
For the March 24 press conference, media should fax a request for accreditation to (661) 276-3566 or contact the NASA Dryden Public Affairs Office at 661-276-3449 by noon on March 22. Media should arrive at the Edwards AFB west gate on Rosamond Blvd. no later than 1:15 p.m.
For the March 27 flight, a media convoy will depart the Dryden Public Affairs Office to take photographers, videographers and reporters to the takeoff viewing site near the runway. Media wishing to participate in this convoy must contact Dryden Public Affairs at 661-276-3449 no later than noon on March 25.
Media personnel must have photo identification, appropriate vehicle registration and insurance information to gain access to Edwards AFB. The Edwards AFB west gate on Rosamond Boulevard off the 14 Freeway at Rosamond, Calif., will be the only base entrance for media.
Media representatives planning to cover the takeoff need to arrive at the west gate no later than 10 a.m. on March 27. Other media representatives planning to cover the flight should arrive at the west gate no later than 11 a.m. Media arriving after 11 a.m. on March 27 may not be accommodated.
Television broadcasters who intend to transmit material from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center during the planned March 27 flight of the X-43A will need to provide their own power source.
Broadcast media intending to use radio-frequency transmitting equipment must have their equipment and frequencies inspected and approved by the NASA Dryden frequency management office in advance. Broadcast crews must have a copy of their transmitter license with their equipment. There will be a mandatory full-up frequency test two hours prior to takeoff in order to avoid interference with frequencies used by NASA or the Air Force. For further information, please contact Dryden frequency managers Gary Barr at (661) 276-2717 or Rich Rood at (661) 276-2138.
NASA Television is available on AMC-9, transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 85 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz.