X-34 completes critical milestoneThe first wing assembly for NASA's X-34 technology demonstrator has completed qualification tests and has been shipped to the prime contractor, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, Va, where it has been mated to the X-34 test article under construction there.
Integration of the wing assembly with the test article fuselage marks a major milestone in the program. Flights of the air-launched X-34 are scheduled to begin next year in conjunction with flights of its larger and more advanced sister ship, the X-33.
The newly qualified X-34 wing assembly, intended for flight, has been installed, initially, on a full-scale X-34 test article at Orbital. The test article will be used for X-34 verification and certification. This first wing assembly will ultimately fly aboard one of two flight vehicles also under construction at Orbital.
The sub-orbital X-34 and X-33 vehicles will demonstrate key technologies - at high speeds and high altitudes - leading toward the development of full scale, commercially operated reusable launch vehicles after the turn of the century. The ultimate objective of these efforts is to dramatically reduce the cost of placing payloads into space.
The X-34 is expected to come to Dryden in late October or early November.
Aerojet Gencorp awarded contractAerojet GenCorp, Sacramento, Calif, has been awarded a contract with a value of $16.4 million to provide a deorbit propulsion stage for a technology demonstrator vehicle.
The vehicle, named X-38, is an innovative, prototype spacecraft that could lead to the design, development and construction of a planned emergency Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) for the International Space Station.
The fixed-price incentive contract is for the design, development, manufacture, test and delivery of a deorbit propulsion stage required for the first X-38 space flight test scheduled for late 2000 or early 2001. This test will involve an unpiloted space test vehicle now under construction at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston, that will be released from a Space Shuttle and descend to a controlled landing. The vehicle's propulsion stage includes a rocket propulsion system that will be fired to begin the vehicle's descent from orbit and then will be jettisoned to burn up in the atmosphere.
The base contract, valued at $16.4 million, is for one propulsion stage for the X-38 space flight test with an option for a second unit. There is a second option in the contract for five operational flight units for the Crew Return Vehicle, if the program is approved and if the X-38 design is selected. If all options are exercised, the contract has a potential value of $71.9 million and will require the delivery of hardware through the year 2005. This contract will be managed and administered by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
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Responsible NASA Official: John Childress For questions, contact: Dryden Web Group Page Curator: Monroe Conner Modified:September 3, 1998 |
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