COST DELAYS ADVANCED ORBITER PILOTLESS CRAFT HAD WING TROUBLES.Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer PALMDALE - Cost overruns on the first version of the pilotless X-37 test craft are forcing NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. to delay work on a more advanced version intended to go into orbit. Development problems with the first X-37's wing and delayed deliveries of other components prompted NASA to issue a notice to Boeing to scale back work on the orbital vehicle and focus its work on the first craft, now being assembled in Palmdale. ``We have to work within the budget for the current fiscal year,'' said National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), civilian agency of the U.S. federal government with the mission of conducting research and developing operational programs in the areas of space exploration, artificial satellites (see satellite, artificial), spokesman Dom Amatore. ``We will seek an adjustment in the 2005 budget.'' How much the problems have added to the $301 million contract for the two test craft was not immediately disclosed. NASA is looking at possibly conducting the orbital flight in 2007, a year later than planned, Amatore said. NASA notified Boeing in a Nov. 24 letter to focus its work on the first X-37, which is to be carried aloft by a modified B-52 bomber and let go to fly back to Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. . Boeing will also continue to develop technologies needed for long-duration spaceflight planned for the orbital vehicle, said Boeing spokesman Ed Memi. ``We are responding to NASA's direction,'' Memi said. Program officials said the first X-37 is still on track to begin a series of drop tests at Edwards in late 2004. The computer-controlled X-37 will be dropped from the NASA B-52 mother ship to test approach and landing technologies, much in the same way the shuttle Enterprise tested technologies for the space shuttle space shuttle, reusable U.S. space vehicle. Developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), it consists of a winged orbiter, two solid-rocket boosters, and an external tank. fleet. The X-37 was originally intended to test technologies for a program aimed at replacing the space shuttle. The program was originally funded at $173 million through a joint effort by NASA, Boeing and the Air Force. NASA revamped the program in 2002 to focus on developing technologies for the orbital space plane The Orbital Space Plane (OSP) program was designed to support the International Space Station requirements for crew rescue, crew transport and contingency cargo such as supplies, food and other needed equipment. , a spacecraft intended to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station. That spacecraft is needed to augment, not replace the space shuttle, agency officials said. In November 2002, NASA awarded a $301 million contract to Boeing to continue work on the X-37. A larger version of the X-37 and an Apollo-like capsule are the two design concepts Boeing is considering for the orbital space plane. Boeing is vying with a team led by Lockheed Martin For the former company, see . Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a leading multinational aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology company formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. to develop the orbital space plane. NASA's 2005 budget request will also likely include adjustments resulting from the agency changing its requirement for the duration of the orbital vehicle's missions. Originally planned for missions of about two weeks, NASA now wants the spacecraft to stay in orbit for up to nine months. The change in the X-37's orbital capability will allow NASA to conduct more tests of technologies for future spacecraft, including testing systems for automatic rendezvous with the International Space Station or with other spacecraft. The X-37 would also be able to test equipment for weather and atmosphere observation. The X-37 orbital vehicle will retain the same shape - 27.5 feet long with a wingspan of 15 feet. The X-37 will operate autonomously using onboard computers. The X-37 will be launched into space atop an Atlas V This article is about the rocket. For the boat, see Atlas V (boat). The Atlas V rocket is an expendable launch vehicle formerly built by Lockheed Martin and now built by the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture United Launch Alliance. or Delta IV Delta IV can refer to
About 400 people in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, work on the X-37, with the work force divided between Boeing facilities in Huntington Beach Huntington Beach, city (1990 pop. 181,519), Orange co., S Calif., on the Pacific coast, across from Santa Catalina Island, in an oil-producing area; inc. 1909. It manufactures aerospace vehicles, aircraft parts, optical instruments, and heat transfer equipment. and Palmdale. Jim Skeen, (661) 267-5743 james.skeen(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) An illustration of the X-37 Advanced Technology Demonstrator in a 1999 NASA file photo. |
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