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X-38 megaparafoil soars
X-Press Editor X-38 Vehicle 131R made its maiden flight Nov. 2 and achieved a number of firsts for the project. The flight gave researchers valuable information they will use to optimize systems for this X-38 and for a space-faring version under development. The flight marked the first X-38 vehicle in the series of research craft to fly with the same aerodynamic shape intended for the eventual Crew Return Vehicle (CRV). It is planned that the CRV will be used to return astronauts from the International Space Station. And the flight also marked the first use of the 7,500-square-foot parafoil on the X-38. The parafoil is a steerable parachute. The robustness of the backup systems came into play on the flight in managing anomalies in several major systems. The innovative approach the X-38 team took to safety in adding layers of redundancy permitted the X-38 to land near the intended landing site, said Chris Nagy, Dryden's X-38 project engineer. "The approach here was to provide backup systems that accomplish the same function in a different way rather than have a conventional multi-string system. The computer is smart enough to figure out something is wrong and initiate corrective action," Nagy said. "A lot of aircraft would not have survived three consecutive systems failures." "Although unanticipated events occurred, the parafoil guidance system landed the X-38 within a half-mile of the intended target location on the north end of Rogers dry lakebed," he said. The flight also demonstrated that the drogue and parafoil chutes work effectively, validated the aircraft's shape and showed the ability of the drogue to stabilize the aircraft in adverse conditions. The philosophy on the X-38 team of "build a little, test a little, fix a little" focuses on identifying irregularities and resolving them. The 24-second Nov. 2 flight scenario will be repeated in the spring with the X-38 airlaunched from the NASA B-52 at about 36,500 feet. The spring flight will also feature a new element – the first flight of an energy modulator to help smooth the change from aft-attached drogue parachute to top-attached drogue. Currently, the drogue chute "repositions" from aft to top in one maneuver. The energy modulator will slow the reposition to make the flight smoother for astronauts returning to Earth. |
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Responsible NASA Official: John Childress For questions, contact: Dryden Web Group Page Curator:WD-Team Modified: November 27, 2000 |
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