The X-38 prototype of the Crew Return Vehicle for the International Space Station dropped away from its launch pylon on the wing of NASA's NB-52B mothership as it began its eighth free flight.
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The X-38 prototype of the Crew Return Vehicle for the International Space Station dropped away from its launch pylon on the wing of NASA’s NB-52B mothership as it began its eighth free flight. The 13-minute test flight of X-38 vehicle 131R was the longest and fastest and was released from the highest altitude to date in the X-38’s atmospheric flight test program. A portion of the descent was flown under remote control by a NASA astronaut from a ground vehicle configured like the CRV’s interior before the X-38 made an autonomous landing on Rogers Dry Lake.December 13, 2001NASA Photo / Carla Thomas› X-38 Project Description