(PRWEB) March 16, 2001
The initial of up to seven free of charge-flight tests of the X-40A, an 85 percent scale version of NASA’s X-37 technology demonstrator, is planned to start this week at the Dryden Flight Investigation Center at Edwards, Calif.

NASA and its sector partner The Boeing Company are making use of the X-40A, on loan from the U.S. Air Force, as element of its risk mitigation activities for the X-37 system. It will help test the shape, guidance and other systems for the X-37. Flight objectives consist of validation of Computed Air Information Systems (CADS), which will be utilized in the flight control technique of the X-37.

Other test points are: in-flight overall performance evaluation of the Honeywell SIGI

Space Integrated Worldwide Positioning Method Inertial Navigation Program test of manage space Operations and flight test of guidance, navigation and manage application.

“These tests with the X-40A will give us a excellent deal of beneficial information applicable to the X-37,” said Dick Cervisi, Boeing Phantom Works X-37 plan manager. “Performing these tests will substantially reduce the threat to be encountered in the X-37 flight program.”