Dyna-Soar?!

I was digging around for pictures of Dyna-Soar, and came across these
two shots:
http://www.hanksreunion.com/ben2.jpg
http://www.hanksreunion.com/A12ProgramBen.jpg
On this webpage: http://www.hanksreunion.com/pictures.htm
What exactly is this gizmo, and how does it relate to the X-20 program?
It doesn't look flyable; is it a ground test article for part of the
avionics?
(Love the strange domed antennas on that second photo - very Flash Gordon!)

Pat

Pat Flannery wrote:
I was digging around for pictures of Dyna-Soar, and came across these
two shots:
http://www.hanksreunion.com/ben2.jpg
http://www.hanksreunion.com/A12ProgramBen.jpg
On this webpage: http://www.hanksreunion.com/pictures.htm
What exactly is this gizmo, and how does it relate to the X-20 program?
It doesn't look flyable; is it a ground test article for part of the
avionics?
(Love the strange domed antennas on that second photo - very Flash Gordon!)

Pat


Look at the guy kneeling on the left. It appears his
feet are on an outrigger that is resting on a rail.
Behind him appears to be rocket sled solid motors?

My guess is this is some type of X-20 testbed that is
being prepared to be propelled by a rocket sled.

X-20 test bed photo
http://www.hanksreunion.com/A12ProgramBen.jpg


Here is a picture of Dr. Stapp's earlier rocket sled.

http://www.wilhelm-aerospace.org/Pho...ocket-sled.jpg
http://www.wilhelm-aerospace.org/Pho...2/nm-2002.html


Rusty

Rusty wrote:

Pat Flannery wrote:


I was digging around for pictures of Dyna-Soar, and came across these
two shots:
http://www.hanksreunion.com/ben2.jpg
http://www.hanksreunion.com/A12ProgramBen.jpg
On this webpage: http://www.hanksreunion.com/pictures.htm
What exactly is this gizmo, and how does it relate to the X-20 program?
It doesn't look flyable; is it a ground test article for part of the
avionics?
(Love the strange domed antennas on that second photo - very Flash Gordon!)

Pat




Look at the guy kneeling on the left. It appears his
feet are on an outrigger that is resting on a rail.
Behind him appears to be rocket sled solid motors?

My guess is this is some type of X-20 testbed that is
being prepared to be propelled by a rocket sled.

X-20 test bed photo
http://www.hanksreunion.com/A12ProgramBen.jpg



What would Honeywell be doing involved in that? They were in charge of
the guidance system on the project.
Are they accelerating the gyro platform to see what happens? Or is it an
ejection seat test? Those were done on rocket sleds, but one would
expect a mock-up of the front of the spacecraft in that case.

Pat

On Tue, 17 Jan 2006 23:33:45 -0600, Pat Flannery
wrote:

What would Honeywell be doing involved in that? They were in charge of
the guidance system on the project.
Are they accelerating the gyro platform to see what happens? Or is it an
ejection seat test? Those were done on rocket sleds, but one would
expect a mock-up of the front of the spacecraft in that case.

Pat
I agree with Rusty, it is a rocket sled. Accoring to Godwin's
_Dyna-Soar_, page 315, refering to the guidance system components,
"A second set will be sled tested on the high speed test track at
Holloman AFB to verify subsystem performance under high "G" forces.
This will be a 6 month test program commencing in August 1963."

I wonder how much they got done before getting cancelled.
--Rolf

"Rolf T. Kappe" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 17 Jan 2006 23:33:45 -0600, Pat Flannery
wrote:

What would Honeywell be doing involved in that? They were in charge of
the guidance system on the project.
Are they accelerating the gyro platform to see what happens? Or is it an
ejection seat test? Those were done on rocket sleds, but one would
expect a mock-up of the front of the spacecraft in that case.

Pat
I agree with Rusty, it is a rocket sled. Accoring to Godwin's
_Dyna-Soar_, page 315, refering to the guidance system components,
"A second set will be sled tested on the high speed test track at
Holloman AFB to verify subsystem performance under high "G" forces.
This will be a 6 month test program commencing in August 1963."

I wonder how much they got done before getting cancelled.
--Rolf


In reading "first Man" Neil Armstrong had a significant contribution to
Honeywell systems with X-15 project (significant travel from Edwards and
Minneapolis) during X-15 program also served as NASA consultant on X-20.

One of Neil's X-15 rides was to establish G force limits of the new
Honeywell equipment, as I remember from reading last night.

gb