Press Release


  This press release is issued by NASDA.

print

Announcement of the Flight Experiment of High Speed Flight Demonstration Phase I

October 15, 2002 (JST)

National Space Development Agency of Japan
National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan

National Space Development Agency of Japan and National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan will jointly conduct the flight experiment of the High Speed Flight Demonstration at Phase I no earlier than 6 a.m. (1 a.m. JST) local time on Christmas Island, Republic of Kiribati. The two agencies have jointly prepared for this experiment.

Exact time and date of the flight experiment are subject to change due to weather conditions and other reasons.

Following the first flight experiment, continuous flight experiment will be conducted until November for the High Speed Flight Demonstration Phase I

Upon the completion of the flight experiment as planned, press conference will be held around 2 p.m. on 17 October (9 a.m. JST) at NASDA-i located in the headquarters of the National Space Development Agency of Japan to present the results of the experiment.


Outline of the Flight Experiment of High Speed Flight Demonstration Phase I
(1) Basic Functions Confirmation Flight : more than 1 flight
Review the basic functions of the aircraft and obtain data and the experience of autonomous flight technologies. Also check the basic flight functions in preparation of the Phase II flight experiment.
(2) Reusable Transportation System Flight Path Trace Flight : more than 1 flight
Review the approach and landing system by conducting the high angle approach unique to the Reusable Space Transportation Systems.

Actual number of flight will be determined by reviewing the necessity, to verify the reproducibility, and for the technological step up.

Experiment NumberSubjectsExperiments/PurposesReview Items
Flight Experiment 1
(F001)		 Basic Functions Confirmation Flight Take off followed by landing gear retraction, relatively low altitude flight without aggressive maneuvers, and landing, under a calm weather conditions.
  • Confirmation of the flight autonomy

  • Basic function check of the onboard instruments. (focused on characteristics review of avionics)
    		•
    Flight Experiment 2
    (F002)    		 Basic Functions Confirmation Flight Confirm the reproducibility of F001 under severe weather condition. Also, obtain the subsonic aerodynamics data such as the control surface effectiveness.
  • Check the reproducibility of F001

  • Check the method of aerodynamics data identification. (Option)
    		•
    Flight Experiment 3
    (F103)    		 Flight Path Trace Flight (No.1) Test the ability to trace a specified flight path from 3km altitude to 15 degrees glide path approach.
  • Check the ability to trace flight path (Low angle flight path)
    		•
    Flight Experiment 4
    (F104)    		 Flight Path Trace Flight (No.2) Test the ability to trace a specified flight path from 5km altitude to 25 degrees glide path approach. Also, obtain the data characteristics of radio communication link to the downrange station.
  • Check the ability to trace flight path (High angle flight path)

  • Obtain Radio communication link data to the downrange station. (Option)
    		•
    Flight Experiment 5
    (F105)    		 Flight Path Trace Flight (No.2) Confirm the reproducibility of F104 under severe weather condition. Also, obtain the transonic aerodynamics data such as the control surface effectiveness.
  • Check the reproducibility of F104

  • Check the method of aerodynamics data identification. (Option)
    		•

    Note: F002/ F103/ F105 may be eliminated or shuffled according to the result of the previous flight experiments.