SPACE PLANES

These are space planes that are being tested. Most that you will will are probly from the X-Families.  Some  will only  be photos with very little details providing for them. Please Click on the  photos to enlarge them.


X33

X-33 Space Plane:
Imagine a future where there’s a space plane that lifts off from Edwards AFB and flies to Malmstrom AFB, Mont. – a trip of 950 miles – in approximately 20 minutes.

Now imagine that future is within two years.

Edwards AFB organizations are teamed up with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works (LMSW) to develop and test the X-33, which is a 53 - percent scale model of the future Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), called VentureStar. Through flight and ground demonstrations, the X-33 will provide information necessary to allow the Lockheed Martin Corporation to make a decision on whether to proceed in the development of the full-scale, commercial single stage to orbit RLV. If created, the VentureStar would eventually replace the Space Shuttle as the next generation space transportation system.

"The goal is to lower costs from approximately $10,000 per pound down to around $1,000 per pound to get into orbit," said Chuck Rogers, Air Force Flight Test Center X-33 Launch Integration Engineer/Manager, 412th Test Wing Access to Space Office.

"We’re excited about the prospects of the X-33, which is paving the way for the Reusable Launch Vehicle next generation space transportation system," said Ron Lindeke, director of communications for Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Palmdale. "It’s very important for the entire Antelope Valley, Edwards and the X-33 team, which includes Air Force, NASA and contractors like the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works team."

Members of Team Edwards that are assisting the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (the program head) with this program include the AFFTC, the Air Force Research Laboratory – Propulsion Directorate (AFRL/PR), and the NASA- Dryden Flight Research Center.

"It’s a real paradigm shift that the industry pays the government for products, services and facilities, as a subcontractor to the contractor," said Rogers. We actually prepared proposals and made proposal presentations, in competition with White Sands, N.M. and the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., to be the X-33 launch site, like a contractor competing for a contract."
 

"Edwards was selected to be the X-33 launch site because of the excellent launch corridor available for launches out of Edwards towards the northeast, and our extensive flight test infrastructure and experience which makes this an ideal place to test experimental vehicles," said Rogers.

"Between Edwards and Utah, and Edwards and Montana are some of the most sparsely populated areas in the United States. That’s very advantageous for launching a vehicle like this, since we want the program to be as safe as possible," he said. "We now have task agreements where we are actually a subcontractor to the contractor through our launch site and flight planning task agreements."

The X-33 will blast off from the site near Haystack Butte, located at the eastern edge of the Base near the AFRL/PR. A 15-flight program is planned for the X-33, from the launch site now under construction. The X-33 Team has already defined the first seven flights that will, if successful, provide the data needed to provide the confidence for a decision to proceed with the full-scale VentureStar.

Construction has already begun on the X-33 and major components are already taking shape. The large tank that will contain the liquid oxygen has been completed and will be delivered soon. The final assembly jigs are already in place at the LMSW facility at Palmdale.

The X-33 is an unmanned, autonomous vehicle that uses differential Global Positioning system (GPS) with radar altimeter for navigation and landing. "The differential GPS will guide it through its flight and down the runway for landing," said Rogers. "Some commands can be sent up to the X-33 from the ground, but the X-33 will operate as an autonomous vehicle during normal operations. The uplink to the X-33 would only be used if the vehicle deviates significantly from its planned flight path."

The X-33 preflight operations, and flight operations will be monitored and controlled from a refurbished operations control center located in Haystack Butte. There will also be range safety officers at the downrange sites, according to Rogers.

The X-33 is designed to travel at a top speed of Mach 15 (15 times the speed of sound) which is approximately three miles a second. The prototype will not achieve orbit which would require a speed of over Mach 25.

Once the X-33 is readied for flight, the engines will be fired two times on the launch pad, with the second firing having a duration of 20 seconds. The longest flight will be approximately 20 minutes at an altitude of about 55 miles. The plan is to demonstrate a 2-day turnaround for the vehicle, said Rogers.Construction has already begun on the X-33 and major components are already taking shape. The large tank that will contain the liquid oxygen has been completed and will be delivered soon. The final assembly jigs are already in place at the LMSW facility at Palmdale.

The X-33 is an unmanned, autonomous vehicle that uses differential Global Positioning system (GPS) with radar altimeter for navigation and landing. "The differential GPS will guide it through its flight and down the runway for landing," said Rogers. "Some commands can be sent up to the X-33 from the ground, but the X-33 will operate as an autonomous vehicle during normal operations. The uplink to the X-33 would only be used if the vehicle deviates significantly from its planned flight path."

The X-33 preflight operations, and flight operations will be monitored and controlled from a refurbished operations control center located in Haystack Butte. There will also be range safety officers at the downrange sites, according to Rogers.

The X-33 is designed to travel at a top speed of Mach 15 (15 times the speed of sound) which is approximately three miles a second. The prototype will not achieve orbit which would require a speed of over Mach 25.

Once the X-33 is readied for flight, the engines will be fired two times on the launch pad, with the second firing having a duration of 20 seconds. The longest flight will be approximately 20 minutes at an altitude of about 55 miles. The plan is to demonstrate a 2-day turnaround for the vehicle, said Rogers.

Construction has already begun on the X-33 and major components are already taking shape. The large tank that will contain the liquid oxygen has been completed and will be delivered soon. The final assembly jigs are already in place at the LMSW facility at Palmdale.

The X-33 is an unmanned, autonomous vehicle that uses differential Global Positioning system (GPS) with radar altimeter for navigation and landing. "The differential GPS will guide it through its flight and down the runway for landing," said Rogers. "Some commands can be sent up to the X-33 from the ground, but the X-33 will operate as an autonomous vehicle during normal operations. The uplink to the X-33 would only be used if the vehicle deviates significantly from its planned flight path."

The X-33 preflight operations, and flight operations will be monitored and controlled from a refurbished operations control center located in Haystack Butte. There will also be range safety officers at the downrange sites, according to Rogers.

The X-33 is designed to travel at a top speed of Mach 15 (15 times the speed of sound) which is approximately three miles a second. The prototype will not achieve orbit which would require a speed of over Mach 25.

Once the X-33 is readied for flight, the engines will be fired two times on the launch pad, with the second firing having a duration of 20 seconds. The longest flight will be approximately 20 minutes at an altitude of about 55 miles. The plan is to demonstrate a 2-day turnaround for the vehicle, said Rogers.

"The selection of Edwards for the X-33 launch site is a win-win for both the program and Edwards, as well as the Antelope Valley," said Johnny Armstrong, acting chief of the AFFTC Access to Space Office. "AFFTC participation in the X-33 program provides the opportunity for our personnel to hone their skills toward support of space-related programs that could provide valuable payoffs in the future, as the Air Force transitions into a Space and Air Force.

"On a personal note the selection of the lifting body configuration for the X-33 is very rewarding for those of us at Edwards that were participants in the Lifting Body programs in the 1960's and 1970's. Flight research does pay off."
 
 
 

X-34
 

  X-34 on Rogers Dry Lakebed at Dryden Flight Research Center on July 20, 2000, prior to tow testing.

X-34 delivery to NASA Dryden Flight Research Center in 1999.

X-34 Technology Demonstrator  NASA Dryden / Tony Landis

X-34 Technology Demonstrator

Details:
News from NASA:

NASA’s X-34 experimental rocket plane begins new pre-flight test series

NASA’s X-34 experimental rocket plane program has kicked off a new phase of tests to prepare it for flight.

Following initial captive flight tests last year at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., the X-34 technology demonstrator began a new series of tests last week in which it is being towed behind a semi-truck and released to coast on the Edwards dry lakebed. On Thursday, it was towed and released twice at speeds of five and 10 miles per hour. On Monday, it was towed and released twice at 10 and 30 miles per hour. The X-34 technology demonstrator is being developed for NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. by Orbital Sciences Corp., of Dulles, Va.

"We are off to a very good start," explained Jeff Sexton at the Marshall Center. Sexton is flight-testing and operations project manager for the Pathfinder Program.

Twelve tests are planned during which the X-34 will be towed for distances up to 10,000 feet and released at speeds up to 80 miles per hour. The test series is expected to last at least six weeks.
 

"The tests, which simulate the vehicle’s roll-out after landing, will verify the craft’s guidance and navigation system, nose wheel steering, braking, rudder speed brake operation and rudder steering," Sexton said.

For these tests, the X-34 is attached to the tow truck by a specially designed 500-foot cable. A radio link is used to provide communications between the rocket plane and the tow truck launch panel operator.

"We’re pleased to begin another series of testing for the X-34 that will bring us one step closer to flight," said Antonio Elias, senior vice president and general manager of Orbital’s advanced programs group. "When completed, they will provide valuable data and help ensure the success of the flight program."

After completion of ground testing, the X-34 will be attached to Orbital’s L1011 carrier aircraft, Stargazer, to finish captive-carry flights required by the FAA to verify that the combined aircraft are safe to fly. Plans are to follow the certification program with approach and landing flights of the X-34 at White Sands Missile Range, NM.

The X-34 is a flying laboratory for technologies, operations and experiments applicable to future low-cost, reusable launch vehicles. It is one of a family of technology demonstrators aimed at lowering launch costs from $10,000 to $1,000 a pound.

The suborbital X-34 is 58.3 feet (17.77 meters) long and 27.7 feet (8.44) meters wide. It is capable of flying up to eight times the speed of sound and reaching altitudes of approximately 50 miles.