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SPACE TRANSPORT : Spacecraft Tech : X-34

NASA has tied up with Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) to design and develop the X-34 technology demonstrator.The contract is managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The goal of the X-34 program is to demonstrate "key technologies" to complement their Reusable Lanuch Vehicle program.

X-34 on the runway (36.3 KB) Stats
Length : 17.77 m
Height : 3.5 m
Wingspan : 8.44 m
Max. Weight(fueled) : 48,000 lbs
Max. Speed : Mach 8
Altitude : 76.2 km
Propulsion : 1 "Fastrac" 30,000 lbs

This vehicle was conceived as a bridge between the Clipper Graham (DC-XA) and the X-33. The X-34 is considerably less compliacted than the X-33. It will use a NASA designed engine called 'Fastrac'. All three (X34,X33,Fastrac) come under NASA's Advanced Space Transportation Program or ASTP.

As said before, through the X-34 NASA aims to reduce launch costs by huge factor. The key to doing this is by using vehicles that can be re-used and not discarded after a single use like a conventional rocket. Hence it is a part of the RLV program.

The technologies initially planned for demonstration on the X-34 are:

  • lightweight composite airframe structures that require little inspection
  • reusable composite propellant tanks, tank insulation and other propulsion components
  • advanced thermal protection systems capable of surviving subsonic flights through rain and fog
  • integrated (built-in) low-cost avionics, including differential Global Positioning System and Inertial Navigation System
  • integrated automated vehicle health monitoring and checkout
  • conformal air data system for flight control inputs that would replace traditional blade-like air data probes, unable to survive reentry temperatures

    X-34 graphic (6.7 KB)

    X-34 will be first carried to a certain altitude under an OSC L-1011 carrier aircraft where it will be released and allowed to fire its engines to reach the desired performance. Pretty similar to the way in which early supersonic craft like the X-1 and the X-15 were tested.

    The Fastrac engine is a 60,000-pound-thrust engine that will be used for the first powered flight X-34. Fastrac is less expensive than similar engines because of a design approach that uses commercial, off-the-shelf parts and fewer of them. Fastrac uses common manufacturing methods, so building the engine is relatively easy and not as labour-intensive as manufacturing typical rocket engines.

    On March 1st (2nd?) 2001, both X-34 and X-33 programs were officially canceled. The decision was taken on account of their unreasonable cost escalation, mounting to well over $1 Billion together.

    Also See : Space Technology - HTOL TSTO

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    Content Design
    msfc.nasa.gov/NEWSROOM/background/facts/x-34.htm : NASA X-34 factsheet at Marshall Space Flight Center. 6/10 3+0/6
    msfc.nasa.gov/NEWSROOM/background/facts/astp.htm : NASA Advanced Space Transportation Program Factsheet at Marshall Space Flight Center. Gives insight on most of NASA's upcoming technologies 7/10 3+0/6
    spacefuture.com/vehicles/designs.shtml : Spacefuture.com's vehicle design page. Has info on a lot of concepts, but is rarely updated. 9/10 0+0/6
    orbital.com/Prods_n_Servs/Products/LaunchSystems/X34 : Orbital Sciences Corporation X-34 Homepage
    fas.org/spp/guide/usa/launch/x-34.htm : Frederation of American Scientists' X-34 info 5/10 1+3/6

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