Jim Cast
Headquarters, Washington, DC                May 30, 2001
(Phone: 202/358-1779)

Leslie Williams
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA
(Phone: 661/276-3893)

Keith Henry/Chris Rink
Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA
(Phone: 757/864-6120, 6786)

NOTE TO EDITORS: N01-34

X-43A NEARS FIRST HYPERSONIC FLIGHT

     Imagine an aircraft that can fly at rocket speeds, seven 
times the speed of sound. NASA engineers are preparing for the 
first in a series of test flights that will turn imagination 
into reality with the X-43A and its hypersonic engine.

The first of three scheduled test flights of NASA's scramjet-
propelled aircraft could come as early as June 2. A second 
flight is scheduled for this winter and a final X-43A flight 
is set for late next year.

Typical of any "X," or experimental program, X-43A will fly 
only when weather conditions and all technical factors point 
to the best chance of success.

The X-43A, 12-feet long with a 5-foot wingspan, will be 
dropped from a B-52 bomber flying from NASA's Dryden Flight 
Research Center, Edwards, CA. After being boosted by a Pegasus 
rocket, the X43A will fly at speeds approaching Mach 7 before 
splashing into the Pacific Ocean.

If the first flight occurs Saturday, June 2, a press 
conference will be held a couple of hours after the B-52 
carrier aircraft returns to base. NASA Television will carry 
the news conference and will air video replays of the X-43A 
flight.

Two-way question and answer capability will be available at 
both Dryden and NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA. 

NASA TV is broadcast on GE-2, transponder 9C, C-Band, located 
at 85 degrees West longitude, frequency 3880 MHz. Polarization 
is vertical and audio is monaural at 6.8 MHz.

Beginning Thursday, May 31, regularly updated status reports 
on the flight of X-43A will be available by calling Dryden at 
661/276-2564, or on the Internet at:

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Projects/hyperx/developments.html

Additional information on the X-43A and NASA's Hyper-X program 
can also be accessed at the following internet sites:

      http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Hyper-X.html
            http://hyper-x.larc.nasa.gov 
                            -end-