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NASA's X-43A flight results in treasure trove of data



 
 
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Old April 7th 04, 06:42 PM
Jacques van Oene
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Default NASA's X-43A flight results in treasure trove of data

NASA News
National Aeronautics and
Space Administration
Dryden Flight Research Center
P.O. Box 273
Edwards, California 93523
Phone (661) 276-3449
FAX (661) 276-3566

April 7, 2004

Michael Braukus: (202) 358-1979
NASA Headquarters

Keith Henry: (757) 864-6120
NASA Langley Research Center

Gray Creech: (661) 276-2662
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center

RELEASE: 04-20

NASA's X-43A FLIGHT RESULTS IN TREASURE TROVE OF DATA

NASA's extremely successful X-43A hypersonic research aircraft flight
of March 27, 2004, resulted in a treasure trove of the first actual
scramjet flight data ever obtained.

The initial data review of the flight was conducted on March 31,
confirming that high-fidelity flight data was obtained throughout the
vehicle's boost, stage separation and descent to splash down in the
Pacific Ocean.

"The data clearly shows, and without question, that scramjets work,"
said Griff Corpening, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's X-43A
chief engineer. "But we did see a couple of areas that differed from
what was seen in the wind tunnels, thus reinforcing the need for
flight testing," Corpening said.

Two very significant aviation milestones occurred on this joint
effort by NASA Langley Research Center, NASA Dryden, and their
industry partners: First, controlled accelerating flight at Mach 7
under scramjet power, and second, the successful stage separation at
high dynamic pressure of two non-axisymmetric vehicles. This was the
first time an airbreathing scramjet-powered aircraft has flown freely.

As icing on the cake that capped the mission's success, the flight
resulted in the setting of a new aeronautical speed record. The X-43A
reached a speed of over Mach 7, or about 5,000 mph, faster than any
known aircraft powered by an airbreathing engine has ever flown.

"We flew very closely to how we predicted we would fly in terms of
Mach, dynamic pressure, vehicle angle of attack, vehicle yaw, and
vehicle roll," Corpening said.

The March 27 flight, originating from NASA's Dryden Flight Research
Center, began with NASA's B-52B launch aircraft carrying the X-43A
out to the test range over the Pacific Ocean off the California
coast. The X-43A was boosted up to its test altitude of about 95,000
ft., where it separated from its modified Pegasus booster and flew
freely under its own power.

Planning is underway for the next flight, currently scheduled for
this fall. The recent flight success allows engineers to zero in on
where to focus their attention, allowing the Hyper-X team to move
more quickly and with more confidence in preparing for the Mach 10
flight, Corpening added.

NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., and Dryden Flight
Research Center, Edwards, Calif., jointly conduct the Hyper-X
program. ATK GASL (formerly MicroCraft, Inc.) in Tullahoma, Tenn.,
built both the vehicle and the engine, and Boeing Phantom Works in
Huntington Beach, Calif., designed the thermal protection and onboard
systems. The booster is a modified Pegasus rocket built by Orbital
Sciences Corp. Chandler, Ariz.

- NASA -



--
---------------------------

Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info




 




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