MILNET Brief   X-34A

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.

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:

conformal air data system for flight control inputs that would replace traditional blade-like air data probes, unable to survive reentry temperatures

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.

On August 28, 1996, NASA awarded to Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) a contract for the design, development, and testing of the X-34 technology testbed demonstrator vehicle. The intent of the X-34 program is to demonstrate "key technologies" integratable to the Reusable Launch Vehicle program. This vehicle was conceived as a bridge between the Clipper Graham (DC-XA) and the X-33. The contract is managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center. (MSFC)

The objective of the X-34 program is flight demonstration of key reusable launch vehicle operations and technologies directed at the reusable launch vehicle goals of low-cost space access and commercial space launch competitiveness. The vehicle is being designed and developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation. It will be powered by a government-furnished engine. The main engine is a 60,000 pound thrust version of the Fastrac LOX/kerosene engine being developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center. This is a simple engine which uses a gas generator cycle, and a single turbopump based on the previously developed Marshall Simplex LOX pump.

The X-34 is considerably smaller and lighter than the X-33. It is capable of hypersonice flight to Mach 8, compared with the X-33's Mach 15. Consequently, it is considerably less expensive and simpler to develop, to operate, and to modify for flight experiments. It has different embedded technologies and a different operational concept. The flight testing will focus on RLV-type operations, the embedded technologies, and technology test articles to be carried as experiments.

Test-bed instrumentation will satisfy the needs for the embedded technolgoies demonstration, and for some additional experiments to be carried. Additional instrumentation requirements will be dictated by the demands of the experiments to be conducted.

This test-bed vehicle is designed to be air-launched from Orbital Science's L-1011 aircraft, then accelerated to speeds up to Mach 8, reaching altitudes up to 250,000 feet. It will land horizontally on a conventional runway. The X-34 will have a wing span of 27.7 feet and is 58.3 feet long.

The modular X-34 design permits easy engine removal and replacement. It may be adaptable for subsequent testing of more advanced propulsion technologies such as rocket based combined cycle, plug nozzle, pulse detonation wave rocket, and dual expansion engines.

The X-34 program is divided into two phases: In Phase I, the vehicle will be designed and built, and two envelope expansion flights limited to Mach 3.8 will be made. In Phase II, 25 flight throughout the range of achieveable speeds will be undertaken during a 12-month period, from locations selected to assure operational experience over a variety of weather and environmental conditions.

In addition to Orbital Sciences Corporation of Dulles, VA, the X-34 industry team includes:
AlliedSignal Corporation, Tempe, AZ, the flight control actuators and hydraulic pump system;
Oceaneering Incorporated, Houston, TX - thermal protection blankets;
Draper Laboratories, Cambridge, MA, - avionics and software.

Government facilities involved on the X-34 program include:
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL, program manager;
Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, wind tunnel testing and analysis;
Ames Research Center, Mountain View, CA, rigid thermal protection system;
Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB CA; Holloman AFB, NM; the White Sands Test Facility and White Stands Missile Range, NM, testing and flight support operation.