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Technical Plan/Phases 1 and 2 |
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| Phase 1 - The initial phase of the project has been completed successfully. The primary objective of Phase 1 was to evaluate the touchdown dynamics (including slideout) of a subscale vehicle/parachute combination with 2.0 lb/ft2 parafoil loading. This phase used a four-foot model of the X-23 shape combined with a smaller parachute to obtain this loading. Using technology from the DFRC Spacewedge project, the time span from start to first flight was less than three months. The model was air-launched from a Cessna aircraft at the California City airfield and immediately transitioned into parachute-borne flight. The vehicle/parachute combination was then manually flown via radio control to a smooth landing. The model was instrumented to obtain touchdown impact accelerations and rates. Fourteen flights have been made and all test objectives were met. Phase 2 - The most important objective of this phase is to demonstrate deployment, autonomous flight, and landing flare capability of a full-scale parafoil/payload system with a wing loading of 2.0 pounds per square foot. Taking advantage of existing technology, the parachute and guidance system will be the same system developed by Pioneer for the Army for use with airborne military equipment deliveries. Originally, this phase was planned to use weighted pallet drops and a full-scale, blended X-23/X-24A shape (without outboard fins) to accomplish its objectives. Although the weighted pallet drops were generally successful, a failure of the pallet release system resulted in the loss of the full-scale vehicle on its first drop. The remaining objectives will be met by using low-cost mockups of the flight vehicle to demonstrate parachute deployment and guidance systems. These mockups will be mounted on a pallet and extracted from a C-130 launch aircraft with parachute deployment taking place shortly after extraction. After parachute deployment, the parachute/guidance system will fly the mockup (and attached pallet) to a flared, soft landing. Four mockup drops are planned to obtain parachute deployment and guidance system performance data. All tests are to be accomplished at the Army test facility at Yuma, AZ. | ||
 Current Projects Research Projects |
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