Air Force Prepares Spacecraft Flight Test

An Air Force Research Laboratory project here is about to take wing – literally. The first test flight of the X-40A technology demonstrator, a 90-percent-scale reusable experimental space vehicle, is slated for early August 1998 at Holloman Air Force Base in southern New Mexico.

Researchers will test the craft’s navigation and control
system by carrying it to a release altitude of 9,000 feet
beneath an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The X-40A’s
on-board system will then take over and guide the vehicle to
a runway landing.

Also called the Space Maneuver Vehicle (SMV), the X-40A, if
fully developed could be the second stage of a
two-stage-to-orbit-system, deploying from a variety of
platforms including expendable launch vehicles like the
Delta, or future reusable launch vehicles. The X-40A could
perform various missions including satellite deployments,
surveillance, and logistics missions like inspections and
possibly rescue of failed satellites.

“SMVs can be used again and again with a variety of payloads
tailored to specific mission requirements,” explained Maj.
Ken Verderame, the AFRL’s SMV deputy program manager.

Boeing designed and built the first-generation SMV flight
test vehicle at its Seal Beach, Calif., facility. Since
delivery of the vehicle to Holloman AFB, N.M., Boeing SMV
project personnel have supported flight test readiness
activities.

John Fuller, Boeing SMV project manager in Seal Beach, said,
“Our work with the Air Force on final integration and ground
testing is nearly completed in preparation for the flight
test phase, which will begin in a few weeks.”