SSRT: Clipper Graham flight 4 scheduled for July 12

["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: Clipper Graham flight 4 scheduled for July 12
>Date: Wed, 10 Jul 1996 20:47:20 -0600
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>
>---------
>
>
>From: baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)
>Newsgroups: sci.space.news
>Subject: Clipper Graham Flight #4 Scheduled for July 12
>Followup-To: sci.space.policy
>Date: 10 Jul 1996 14:20:24 -0700
>Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
>Lines: 69
>
>Jim Cast
>Headquarters, Washington, DC               July 10, 1996
>(Phone:  202/358-1779)
>
>Dom Amatore
>Marshall Space Flight Center, AL
>(Phone:  205/544-0031)
>
>RELEASE:  96-134
>
>CLIPPER GRAHAM FLIGHT #4 SCHEDULED FOR JULY 12
>
>     The "Clipper Graham" single-stage reusable rocket
>developed by NASA and McDonnell Douglas is scheduled to
>perform its fourth test flight at 3:30 p.m. EDT on Friday,
>July 12, at the U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
>
>     The 43-foot-high rocket will reach an altitude of 4,100
>feet and travel laterally 2,800 feet during its planned two-
>minute, 20-second flight.  During its flight the rocket will
>dip its nose 60 degrees toward the horizon, right itself and
>dip its nose 60 degrees in the opposite direction.  This
>flight maneuver will enable evaluation of the performance of
>new lightweight, high-strength materials and components.
>
>     The "Clipper Graham" has flown successfully three times.
>Its first flight was May 18, and its last two flights came
>just 26 hours apart on June 7 and 8.
>
>     The "Clipper Graham" was developed from the U.S. Air
>Force DC-X rocket which flew eight times between August 1993
>and July 1995.  The DC-X airframe was extensively modified by
>replacing existing systems with new technology components
>required for the development of a single-stage-to-orbit
>reusable launch vehicle.  These include a composite liquid
>hydrogen tank, the first ever to fly on a rocket, and a
>Russian-built aluminum-lithium alloy liquid oxygen tank.  The
>vehicle's advanced technology components all have performed
>well during its first three flights according to NASA program
>manager Dan Dumbacher of the Marshall Space Flight Center,
>Huntsville, AL.  The last flight planned for the vehicle will
>feature its first use of a new lightweight auxiliary power
>system which will convert liquid hydrogen to a gas for use in
>the vehicle's flight reaction control system and auxiliary
>power unit.  The reaction control system provides backup for
>the rocket's roll altitude during flight.
>
>     "Clipper Graham" is part of NASA's Reusable Launch
>Vehicle Technology program, together with the X-34 small
>technology demonstrator and the X-33 test vehicle which NASA
>and Lockheed-Martin are developing as a one-half scale model
>of the Reusable Launch Vehicle private industry likely will
>develop and operate during the first decade of the next century.
>
>     The Air Force's Phillips Laboratory at Kirtland Air
>Force Base, NM, is managing flight test operations.
>
>     While the "Clipper Graham" flight tests are not open to
>the general public, news media representatives may cover the
>tests by requesting accreditation from the White Sands
>Missile Range Public Affairs Office (facsimile machine number
>505/678-7174, phone 505/678-1134.  The point of contact is
>Debbie Bingham.  Even those media representatives already
>accredited must register in advance for each flight to ensure
>adequate transportation to the test site.  Media planning to
>view the test flight must be at Bldg. 122 by 11:30 a.m. on
>flight day, July 12.
>
>                    -end-
>
>
>
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+  Weave a circle 'round him thrice, and close your eyes with holy dread...   +
+                                                                             +
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