SSRT: Space Access Update #68 7/31/96 - DC-XA Fire

["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: Space Access Update #68 7/31/96 - DC-XA Fire
>Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 18:43:56 -0600
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>From: hvanderbilt@BIX.com (hvanderbilt on BIX)
>Newsgroups: sci.space.policy
>Subject: Space Access Update #68 7/31/96 - DC-XA Fire
>Date: 31 Jul 96 21:18:06 GMT
>Organization: Delphi Internet Services Corporation
>Lines: 49
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>
>                     Space Access Update #68  7/31/96
>                 Copyright 1996 by Space Access Society
>_______________________________________________________________________
>
>This just in.  The DC-XA "Clipper Graham" suffered a significant post-
>landing fire today.  As far as we know, the scheduled two minute twenty
>second flight test went fine.  Preliminary word is that one landing gear
>leg failed to extend, causing the vehicle to fall on its side after
>touching down.  The vehicle then caught fire.  We have no details on how
>long the fire burned before the fire crew could approach the pad, or how
>extensive damage is.
>
>(We now have confirmation of all of the above from White Sands Missile
>Range.  NASA Select TV should be carrying a press conference with more
>details at 3:30 pm MDT.)
>
>Our best guess is that vehicle damage will be extensive, but that parts of
>the vehicle, in particular the engines, may be salvageable.
>
>Our read on the significance of this to the practicality or otherwise of
>the DC-X vertical-landing configuration is, no significance.  Landing
>gears get stuck occasionally on all sorts of aircraft; gear-up landings
>often lead to severe damage or destruction of the aircraft involved.  The
>main lesson to be drawn is, build more than one copy of your X-vehicle.
>(A secondary lesson might be to change landing hardware and/or procedures
>to try to keep the vehicle upright in the event of a stuck landing leg...)
>
>Our recommendation for what action to take is, take the funds that have
>been identified for extended DC-XA flight test (recently officially
>approved) and for a possible start on a DC-XB upgrade aeroshell, salvage
>what's salvageable from the DC-XA, and begin work on DC-XB immediately.
>
>More on all this when we know more.
>__________________________________________________________________________
>
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+                                                                             +
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