Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                    
       
August 1, 1994
(Phone:  202/358-1779)

Ernie J. Shannon
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
(Phone: 205/544-0034)

RELEASE:  94-125

DELTA CLIPPER AGREEMENT SIGNED

     NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., has
signed a cooperative agreement with McDonnell Douglas Aerospace
in Huntington Beach, Calif., to reconfigure the Delta Clipper
experimental vehicle (DC-X) using advanced lightweight materials
and advanced auxiliary propulsion systems.

     The agreement covers a 28-month period beginning this month
at a total estimated government funding amount of $17.6 million,
with cost sharing by McDonnell Douglas of $7.6 million.

     The DC-X vehicle was originally developed by McDonnell
Douglas under a Department of Defense (DoD) contract.  Designed
and built in 19 months, it was test-flown five times in 1993 and
1994 and is currently undergoing repairs following minor damage
on the last flight.

     NASA is acquiring the DC-X from DoD to test new technologies
needed to develop a reusable launch vehicle which could assist
the Agency's ultimate goal of gaining low-cost access to space.

     The focus of the Marshall Center's DC-XA (Delta Clipper -
Experimental Advanced) program will be the flight demonstration
of an aluminum/lithium liquid oxygen tank, a graphite composite
liquid hydrogen tank, a composite intertank, an advanced
auxiliary propulsion system and other advanced technology
components all replacing existing lower technology hardware.

     The first flight of the Marshall-managed DC-XA is scheduled
for the spring of 1996.  After a series of flights, the vehicle
will be returned to Marshall for disassembly and further
component testing.

                                  - end -