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Mach 10 flight of hypersonic X-43A set for November NASA-DRYDEM NEWS RELEASE Posted: October 16, 2004 NASA aeronautics researchers are looking to conduct the final research flight of the hypersonic X-43A technology demonstration aircraft in early to mid-November, following review of data collected during a "captive carry" dress rehearsal mission in late September. The final flight of the small X-43A research aircraft is targeted to sustain a speed of up to Mach 10, or 10 times the speed of sound (about 7,000 mph), powered by a revolutionary airframe-integrated supersonic-combustion ramjet or "scramjet" engine. This is a very high-risk mission, but if successful, the flight will set a new speed record for an aircraft powered by an air-breathing engine. Project officials report that a review of data from the Sept. 27 captive carry flight was completed last week, and there are no technical issues outstanding at this time that would prevent the Mach 10 flight from occurring sometime during the first two weeks of November. At present, project officials are looking at several possible dates from Nov. 8 through Nov. 15, with the most likely flight date on Tuesday, Nov. 9, depending on the availability of the U.S. Navy test range off the Southern California coast where the mission will be flown. The X-43A research vehicle is ready for flight with final integration to the booster and mission simulation testing to be completed this month. Final testing of the modified Pegasus booster's fin actuation system is occurring this week at Orbital Science Corp. facilities at Chandler, Ariz. Once completed, the remaining flight hardware will be shipped to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center to complete booster system integration. The X-43A project is part of the Hyper-X hypersonic research program led by NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate and operated jointly by NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., and Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif. The program aims to demonstrate air-breathing engine technologies that promise to increase payload capacity - or reduce vehicle size for the same payload - for future hypersonic aircraft and reusable space launch vehicles. |
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The Russian Soyuz TMA-5 capsule successfully docks to the International Space Station, delivering the Expedition 10 crew for its half-year mission. (3min 21sec file)
This longer-length broadband clip follows the Soyuz TMA-5 capsule's approach and docking to the station's Pirs module. (8min 47sec file)
Russian and U.S. space officials hold a post-docking press conference from the mission control center outside Moscow. (23min 04sec file)
The Russian Soyuz rocket blasts off from Baikonur Cosmodrome carrying the Expedition 10 crew International Space Station for a six-month mission. (2min 25sec file)
This longer-length broadband clip follows the launch of Expedition 10 from the final minute of the countdown through deployment of the Soyuz capsule from the third stage. (10min 15sec file)
The State Commission hears from senior Russian and American officials before giving final approval to launch Expedition 10 to the International Space Station. (13min 46sec file)