The final flight of NASA’s X-43A hypersonic research aircraft is still on schedule for Monday afternoon, Nov. 15, weather permitting. The mission is intended to flight-validate the operation of the X-43A’s supersonic-combustion ramjet – or scramjet – engine at a record airspeed of almost Mach 10, or 10 times the speed of sound. The final X-43A mission is also expected to be the last research mission for NASA’s venerable B-52B “mothership” heavy launch aircraft, which is due to be retired in
The X-43A and its modified Pegasus booster rocket were mated to NASA’s B-52B launch aircraft on Thursday, Nov. 11. Pre-flight checks of the X-43A and the booster are occurring Friday and Saturday, with final closeouts and fueling slated for Sunday, Nov. 14th. Takeoff on Nov. 15 is tentatively scheduled for about 1 p.m. Pacific time, with launch about an hour later over the Pacific test range off the coast of Southern California.
A post-flight news media briefing will be held about an hour after the mission concludes, or no earlier than 4 p.m. Pacific time (7 p.m. EST). The briefing will be carried live on NASA Television, and webcast at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html Reporters unable to attend the session may submit questions to the panelists during the briefing via e-mail at x43nov@dfrc.nasa.gov or by phone at (661) 276-3449.
Media representatives planning in-person coverage of the milestone mission and the post-flight news conference must contact NASA Dryden public affairs at 661-276-3449 no later than 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12 for accreditation. Media photographers and camera operators desiring to cover the takeoff of the B-52B carrying the X-43A and its booster must arrive at the west gate of Edwards Air Force Base on Rosamond Boulevard no later than 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 15. Reporters not planning to watch the takeoff should arrive at the Edwards west gate by noon.
Flight schedule updates for news media will be available throughout the weekend by phoning 661/276-2564 or on the web at http://www.nasa.gov/missions/research/x43-main.html News media needing additional information during the weekend may call Leslie Williams at (661) 810-4977, Alan Brown at (661) 810-4978 or Keith Henry at (757) 344-7211.
NASA TV is available on the Web and via satellite in the continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, at 72 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7, Transponder 18C, at 137 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz.
