NASA DFRC media advisory 04-57: X-43A flight on schedule for Nov.15

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

Nov. 12, 2004

Leslie Williams
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
(661) 276-3893

Keith Henry
NASA Langley Research Center
(757) 344-7211

RELEASE 04-57

X-43A STATUS UPDATE / MEDIA ADVISORY

X-43A MACH 10 FLIGHT ON SCHEDULE FOR NOV. 15

The final flight of NASA's X-43A hypersonic research aircraft is
still on schedule for Monday afternoon, Nov. 15, weather permitting.
The mission is intended to flight-validate the operation of the
X-43A's supersonic-combustion ramjet - or scramjet - engine at a
record airspeed of almost Mach 10, or 10 times the speed of sound.
The final X-43A mission is also expected to be the last research
mission for NASA's venerable B-52B "mothership" heavy launch
aircraft, which is due to be retired in the near future after almost
50 years of service.

The X-43A and its modified Pegasus booster rocket were mated to
NASA's B-52B launch aircraft on Thursday, Nov. 11. Pre-flight checks
of the X-43A and the booster are occurring Friday and Saturday, with
final closeouts and fueling slated for Sunday, Nov. 14th. Takeoff on
Nov. 15 is tentatively scheduled for about 1 p.m. Pacific time, with
launch about an hour later over the Pacific test range off the coast
of Southern California.

A post-flight news media briefing will be held about an hour after
the mission concludes, or no earlier than 4 p.m. Pacific time (7 p.m.
EST). The briefing will be carried live on NASA Television, and
webcast at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html.
Reporters unable to attend the session may submit questions to the
panelists during the briefing via e-mail at or
by phone at (661) 276-3449.

Media representatives planning in-person coverage of the milestone
mission and the post-flight news conference must contact NASA Dryden
public affairs at 661-276-3449 no later than 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12
for accreditation. Media photographers and camera operators desiring
to cover the takeoff of the B-52B carrying the X-43A and its booster
must arrive at the west gate of Edwards Air Force Base on Rosamond
Boulevard no later than 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 15. Reporters not
planning to watch the takeoff should arrive at the Edwards west gate
by noon.

Flight schedule updates for news media will be available throughout
the weekend by phoning 661/276-2564 or on the web at
http://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/x43-main.html. News media
needing additional information during the weekend may call Leslie
Williams at (661) 810-4977, Alan Brown at (661) 810-4978 or Keith
Henry at (757) 344-7211.

NASA TV is available on the Web and via satellite in the continental
U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, at 72 degrees west longitude. The
frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is
monaural at 6.80 MHz. In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on
AMC-7, Transponder 18C, at 137 degrees west longitude. The frequency
is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at
6.80 MHz.

- NASA -


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

Jacques :-)

www.spacepatches.info