Dryden Home > Collections > Photo Home > X-40A SMV Aircraft > Photo # EC01-0148-15 |
X-40A Free Flight #5 | ||
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Photo Number: | EC01-0148-15 | |
Photo Date: | May 8, 2001 | |
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Formats: | 480x606 JPEG Image (75 KBytes) 1013x1280 JPEG Image (618 KBytes) 2400x3032 JPEG Image (4,681 KBytes) |
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Description: |
X-40A Free Flight #5. The unpowered X-40A, an 85 percent scale risk reduction version of the proposed X-37, proved the capability of an autonomous flight control and landing system in a series of glide flights at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California.
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the X-37 project. At Dryden, the X-40A underwent a series of ground and air tests to reduce possible risks to the larger X-37, including drop tests from a helicopter to check guidance and navigation systems planned for use in the X-37. The X-37 is designed to demonstrate technologies in the orbital and reentry environments for next-generation reusable launch vehicles that will increase both safety and reliability, while reducing launch costs from $10,000 per pound to $1,000 per pound. |
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NASA Photo by: | Jim Ross | |
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Keywords: | X-40A; X-40; X-37; FF #5 |
Dryden Home > Collections > Photo Home > X-40A SMV Aircraft > Photo # EC01-0148-15 |
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