For Release: August 21, 1997

Ann C. Gaudreaux
(757) 864-8150

RELEASE NO. 97-104

NOTE TO EDITORS: " Breaking Things" at NASA Langley

FULL-SCALE TECHNOLOGY SEGMENT OF RLV COMPOSITE INTERTANK STRUCTURE TO BE TESTED AT NASA LANGLEY

A large full-scale technology segment of a composite intertank structure for the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) program will be tested at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., on Tuesday, August 25 at 10 a.m. [NOTE: Rescheduled to Thursday, August 28]

The tests will be conducted to validate the design, fabrication and analysis tools needed for the development of the nation's next-generation reusable launch vehicles.

The article will be tested by subjecting it to loads simulating the vehicle's condition experienced during launch. One end of the test article will be attached to the NASA Langley vertical test support structure and the other end will undergo a uniform pressure load applied by 21 hydraulic jacks equally spaced along the circular arc of a ring frame of the test article.

The United States is developing a launch system that is lightweight, robust, requires little maintenance or inspection, and has low-cost operations as part of its design features. Future launch systems will also greatly reduce the cost required to put a pound of payload into orbit. The RLV program is developing various ways of achieving that goal.

Members of the media are welcome to attend the test. For information and directions, call Ann Gaudreaux in the Office of Public Affairs at (757) 864-8150.

- end -

text-only version of this release