Photos and video are available. The X-38 technology demonstrator for a future Crew Return Vehicle successfully completed its fourth captive carry flight Nov. 19. The fifth captive carry is the final dress rehearsal in preparation for drop tests currently scheduled for early February 1998. NASA could use a Crew Return Vehicle to evacuate crew members to Earth in cases of injury or illness. Also, the six-person vehicle could return the crew to Earth if an orbiter was unavailable or if the Space Station became disabled.
Photos are available.
Dryden researchers use on-board data acquisition systems to collect data from flight experiments carried by various research aircraft. The aircraft last flew a year and a half ago in support of the Cranked-Arrow Wing Aerodynamics Project. Learn about FOIA law, learn how to make a FOIA request or browse our Electronic FOIA Reading Room.