RELEASE NO. 96-048

NOTE TO EDITORS:

X-33 RLV DESIGN WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED TUESDAY
NASA LANGLEY RESEARCHERS CONTRIBUTED TO DESIGN

Vice President Al Gore will announce the builder of America's revolutionary new reusable launch vehicle, the X-33, at approximately 4:15 p.m. EDT July 2, in a ceremony at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif.

At approximately 5 p.m. EDT, NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin and Gary Payton, Director of NASA's Reusable Launch Vehicle Program will hold a press conference to explain the objectives of the program and why this new vehicle will be commercially efficient and profitable for American industry. Both events will be broadcast live on NASA Television.

Immediately following that announcement, NASA Langley will release information on technologies that have been developed and tested there during the first phase of the X-33 program.

NASA Langley is the NASA Center for Excellence for Structures and Materials and, as such, provided research data on cryogenic propellant tanks, composite structures, metallic and composite thermal protection systems and vehicle systems analysis, as well as aerodynamic testing and analysis and flight control technology.

Photos/graphics and interviews will be available. For more information, contact Ann Gaudreaux (757) 864-8150.

text-only version of this release