SSRT: DC-XA flight 2 PR, Preliminary note on flight 3

["L. Parker" <lparker@gnt.net>]

>Return-Path: chrisj@mail.utexas.edu
>From: chrisj@mail.utexas.edu (Chris W. Johnson)
>To: "Single Stage Rocket Technology News" <ssrt-news@zimbazi.cc.utexas.edu>
>Subject: SSRT: DC-XA flight 2 PR, Preliminary note on flight 3
>Date: Mon, 10 Jun 1996 15:10:19 -0600
>Sender: listserv@zimbazi.cc.utexas.edu
>X-listname: <ssrt-news@zimbazi.cc.utexas.edu>
>
>
>A new version of the DC-XA flight 2 movie is available from:
>
>        http://gargravarr.cc.utexas.edu/delta-clipper/dcxa-flight-2/index.html
>        ftp://ftp.utexas.edu/pub/ssrt/images/dcxa-flight-2/
>
>Chris Cooley has redigitized the NASA video and reduced the size of the
>movie to 4.2 MB, including the soundtrack. Also to be found at those
>locations is a movie of a computer simulation of flight 2 that was aired
>shortly before the actual flight. That's only 1.2 MB. Both are in QuickTime
>format. QuickTime implementation for Mac and Windows can be found at:
>
>        http://quicktime.apple.com/qt/sw/sw.html
>
>BTW, we'd also be offering the flight 3 video, but it appears that NASA TV
>didn't carry it.
>
>----Chris
>
>Chris W. Johnson
>
>Email: chrisj@mail.utexas.edu
>URL:   http://gargravarr.cc.utexas.edu/
>
>"It is only now beginning to dawn on us that an American city with its
>immense freeway and parking infrastructure resembles not so much a city
>of the 21st century as a city which has suffered saturation bombing."
>--Wolfgang Zuckermann
>
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>NEWS RELEASE
>
>For Immediate Release
>
>Contact:  Jim Spellman (619) 379-2503 e-mail: WSpaceport@aol.com
>
>DC-XA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED Flight Dedicated to Lt.General Daniel
>O.Graham, "father" of SSTO concept "Turnaround" Flight scheduled this
>afternoon
>
>WHITE SANDS SPACE HARBOR, NM (June 7) --  The McDonnell Douglas Delta
>Clipper eXperimental Advanced (DC-XA) vehicle successfully lifted off
>and flew a short test flight at 9:15 a.m. PDT this morning.  It was the
>second test of the newly redesigned single stage to orbit (SSTO)
>reusable launch vehicle since its last flight, which occurred May 18.
>
>The one-minute flight -- with the callsign "Clipper Graham" in honor of
>the late Lt. General Daniel O. Graham, the "father" of the SSTO concept
>who passed away last December of cancer -- flew to a height of
>approximately 1,600 feet, and translated (moved sideways) 350 feet
>before descending to the desert floor for a soft landing under rocket
>power.
>
>Preliminary indications are that the vehicle performed flawlessly, and
>is now being "turned around" (serviced) for another test flight later
>this afternoon -- thereby demonstrating the DC-XA's "airline-type"
>operation.
>
>The DC-XA is an upgraded version of the DC-X, which flew eight times
>between 1993 and 1995.  Developed by McDonnell Douglas Aerospace and
>NASA under a cooperative agreement as part of the Reusable Launch
>Vehicle Technology Program, the DC-XA is being considered for the
>upcoming X-33 RLV program. The X-33 RLV's goal is to ultimately replace
>the current space shuttle launch vehicles by dramatically reducing
>launch costs and creating cheaper access to space.
>
>Formerly called the Delta Clipper, the four-story DC-XA is currently
>conducting a series of unmanned flight tests in New Mexico for NASA.
>The project was conceived to provide NASA's Reusable Launch Vehicle
>Program with an early, small scale flight demonstration of advanced
>technologies required by reusable launch vehicles.   The DC-XA
>incorporates the latest advances in technology, propulsion systems and
>composite materials.
>
>NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin announced today that the DC-XA
>flight vehicle was re-named "Clipper Graham" in honor of the late
>Lt.General Daniel O. Graham.
>
>"NASA is committed to developing and demonstrating reusable launch
>vehicle technologies.  Graham was a visionary who championed the promise
>of fully reusable single-stage-to-orbit vehicles at a time when the
>majority of the space community were skeptics.  We're doing this in
>commemoration of his vision in opening the space frontier," Goldin said.
>
>A West Point graduate, Graham served in a number of high military and
>government posts including Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence
>Agency and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. He also founded
>and became Chairman of the Space Transportation Association to assure
>continued U.S. leadership and superiority in providing reliable,
>economical space transportation systems.
>
>
>-- 30 --
>
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>From: hvanderbilt@BIX.com (hvanderbilt on BIX)
>Newsgroups: sci.space.policy
>Subject: DC-XA flies twice in two days
>Date: 9 Jun 96 06:58:26 GMT
>Organization: Delphi Internet Services Corporation
>Lines: 9
>
>
>Just a quick preliminary report; I'm just off driving back from New
>Mexico.  DC-XA flew successfully this afternoon, its second flight in
>26 hours, and third flight since the rebuild from the original DC-X
>configuration.  Next flight is scheduled for late June; they're going
>to take a couple weeks to go over the data.  Mechanically, the ship
>could fly again tomorrow, according to the flight ops people.
>
>           Henry Vanderbilt  hvanderbilt@bix.com
>
>
>
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+                                                                             +
+  Weave a circle 'round him thrice, and close your eyes with holy dread...   +
+                                                                             +
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