| The
first atmospheric test vehicle for the X-38 prototype International Space
Station crew return vehicle goes through a "captive carry" flight test in
fall 1997 under the wing of a B-52 aircraft at NASA's Dryden Flight Research
Center, California. The X-38 flight test program is planning a February
drop test of the atmospheric test vehicle after a successful recent redesigning
and strengthening of the vehicle's parafoil parachute. Unpiloted drop tests
of three such X-38 atmospheric test vehicles are planned to continue over
the next two years. |
