|
TUESDAY, JUNE 1
X-43: NASA SET SPEED RECORD
The desire to explore and expand our boundaries has been a key
element in NASA's development of hypersonic air-breathing engine
systems. And it has been for more than 40 years. At NASA Langley
Research Center, wind tunnel tests have been conducted on more than
20 engine configurations.
Charles R. McClinton, senior researcher at NASA Langley, will
speak on "X-43: Breaking the Hypersonic Barrier" at a colloquium at
2 p.m. Tuesday, June 1.
Media Briefing: A media briefing will be held at 1:15
p.m. at the H.J.E. Reid Conference Center, 14 Langley Blvd., NASA
Langley Research Center. Members of the media who wish to attend
should contact Kimberly W. Land at (757) 864-9885 or 344-8611
(mobile) to arrange for credentials.
McClinton will explain scramjet operation and design principles,
highlight Virginia's contribution to scramjet and hypersonic
vehicle development and present the agency's hypersonic vision.
NASA Langley has worked with the Russians and Australians in
recent scramjet flight tests and, just this spring, NASA
successfully tested the X-43; the first vehicle to fly under
scramjet power over 500 miles, generating a wealth of unique data
confirming scramjet capabilities.
Over the past four years, McClinton has played an instrumental
role in planning hypersonic air-breathing technology development
programs at NASA Langley, where he has worked since 1967. In 1996,
he was selected as the Technology Manager for the Hyper-X program.
He is responsible for the Hyper-X vehicle definition to meet
mission requirements, delivery of government furnished items to the
contractor teams, wind tunnel testing and hypersonic technology
development.
In 1967, McClinton received a bachelor's of science degree in
aerospace engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and, in
1971, a master's of science degree in mechanical engineering from
George Washington University. He has over 18 years experience in
wind tunnel testing of scramjet engines and components. He has
authored numerous publications and has received an array of
national awards.
-end-
|
