NASA's B-52B cruises over the Pacific Ocean carrying the second X-43A vehicle attached to a Pegasus rocket on March 27, 2004. Photo credit: NASA.
NASA's B-52B cruises over the Pacific Ocean carrying the second X-43A vehicle attached to a Pegasus rocket on March 27, 2004. Photo credit: NASA. |
If availability of the U.S. Navy test range off the Southern California coast or weather conditions preclude conducting the mission, Nov. 16 is the backup date for the flight. The flight is scheduled at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif.
The mission is intended to flight-validate the operation of the X-43A's supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engine at an airspeed of almost Mach 10, about 6,800 mph. Technicians are preparing the research vehicle and its rocket booster for mating to the B-52B launch aircraft. Project engineers are completing control room training for the mission.
The final X-43A mission is also expected to be the last research mission for NASA's venerable B-52B "mothership" heavy launch aircraft. It is due for retirement after almost 50 years of service.
A pre-flight news media briefing at Dryden is rescheduled for the week of Nov. 8-12. The exact date will be announced to coincide with the X-43A mission.
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