The seventh free flight of an X-38 prototype for an emergency space station Crew Return Vehicle culminated in a graceful glide to landing under the world's largest parafoil.
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The seventh free flight of an X-38 prototype for an emergency space station Crew Return Vehicle culminated in a graceful glide to landing under the world’s largest parafoil. The mission began when the X-38 was released from NASA’s B-52 mother ship over Edwards Air Force Base, CA, where NASA Dryden Flight Research Center is located. The July 10, 2001 flight helped researchers evaluate software and deployment of the X-38’s drogue parachute and subsequent parafoil. NASA intended to create a space-worthy Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) to be docked to the International Space Station as a “lifeboat” to enable a full seven-person station crew to evacuate in an emergency.July 10, 2001NASA Photo / Carla Thomas› X-38 Project Description