The Boeing X-40A Space Maneuver Vehicle is a test platform for the X-37 Future-X Reusable Launch Vehicle project.

History

The unpiloted X-40 was built to 85 percent scale to test aerodynamics and navigation of the X-37 Future-X Reusable Launch Vehicle project.

After the first drop test in Aug 1998 the vehicle was transferred to NASA who modified it. Between 4 April and 19 May 2001, the vehicle successfully conducted seven free flights.^[1] In 2001 it successfully demonstrated the glide capabilities of the X-37's fat-bodied, short-winged design and validated the proposed guidance system.

Testing

The first X-40 drop test occurred at Holloman AFB, New Mexico on 11 August 1998 at 06:59. This was a joint Air Force/Boeing project known as Space Maneuver Vehicle. It was released from an altitude of approximately and away from the end of Runway 04 by a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter^[2][3][1] (later tests used the CH-47 Chinook helicopter).^[3][1] The vehicle dove to the runway in an approach similar to the Space Shuttle's, flared, and landed left of the runway centerline. Its drag chutes successfully deployed, and the vehicle tracked to within seven feet of centerline and stopped in a distance of just over .

Specifications (X-40)

See also

References

1. ↑ ^{a b c}
2. ↑
3. ↑ ^{a b}

External links

• NASA Dryden X-40A SMV Photo Collection
• X-40A Test Flight, Boeing press release
• X-40 Space Maneuver Vehicle Integrated Tech Testbed at FAS.org
• X-40 Space Maneuver Vehicle (SMV) at GlobalSecurity.org
• Boeing X-37 / X-40 page at Designation-Systems.Net

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