X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST



Flight No.: 1-38-60 Scheduled Date : July 17, 1963

Pilot: Major Robert Rushworth

Purpose of Flight: Ventral off stability investigation

Launch: Mud Lake on magnetic heading 173°, SAS 8-4-8, ASAS Armed, both BCS "ON", RAS "OFF", Ventral off.

Launch Point Coordinates: 38° 07' N, 117° 19' W
 
 No. Time Alt Vel a q  Event
             
1. 0 45 790 2 145 Launch, light engine, increase to 100% T. Rotate to 2g.
             
2. 13 45 1350 12 410 2g - maintain 2g until q = 30°.
             
3. 21 48 1600 11 500 q = 30°, maintain q = 30°.
             
4. 37 60 2250 5 580 Pushover to "0" g.
             
5. 70 88 4300 0 530 Extend speed brakes to 20°.
             
6. 84 98 5600 0 560 Shutdown. Maintain a = 0° until Hdot » +100 fps, then pullup to a = 5°. ASAS "OFF", disengage Yaw and Roll dampers. Perform dv pulse (V » 5400 fps).
             
7. 106 98 5300 5 490 Pullup to a = 20°, perform dv pulse if required. (V » 5200 fps).
             
8. 117 100 4900 20 390 Retract speed brakes, perform dv pulse if required. (V » 4800 fps).
             
9. 124 102 4600 20 310 Pushover to » 3° a, extend speed brakes to 35°, perform dv pulse (V » 4300 fps).
             
10. 152 112 4200 3 170 Peak altitude.
             
11. 170 107 4200 3 200 Pullup to a » 12°, perform dv pulse (V » 4000 fps).
             
12. 210 87 3600 12 400 Retract speed brakes, pushover to a » 10° and perform dv pulses (V » 3500 fps to 3000 fps).
             
13. 240 85 3000 10 300 Pushover to » 2° a, perform dv pulse (V » 2900 fps).
             
14. 264 83 2800 2 290 Pullup to » 10° a, perform dv pulse (V » 2500 fps). If energy permits extend speed brakes to 35° and perform dv pulse. (V » 2300 fps).
             
15. 310 77 2000 10 200 Engage Roll and Yaw dampers. Arm ASAS, vector to high key. Speed brakes as required.
             
16.           High key - Check flap and "SQUAT" circuit breakers in.
             
17.           Before APU shutdown, cycle flaps, set stabilizer trim to zero, data off.

 

NOTES:

1. q vernier will be set at 30°, a crosspointer will null at 20°.

2. Emergency lake: Grapevine, Cuddeback.

3. Flight Duration: Approximately 10 minutes.

4. Flight plan based on 56,000# (100%) thrust engine. Total burn time at 100% = 85 sec. Launch wt. = 32,800#, Burnout wt. = 15,000#.

 GROUND RULES FOR NO LAUNCH: 1. Radio, Radar or T.M. failure.

2. Malfunction of any SAS channel.

3. Malfunction of inertial platform attitudes.

4. Malfunction of ball nose.

5. APU gearbox pressurization malfunction.

 ALTERNATE SITUATIONS AFTER LAUNCH:
 
 
Failure
  
Action
       
1. Radio or Radar   Proceed as planned.
       
2. Total Pitch Damper   Proceed, engage Pitch RAS after pushover to 0g. After burnout use 15° a instead of 20° a, continue.
       
3. Total Roll Damper   Turn Yaw off, proceed as planned.
       
4. Total Yaw Damper   Proceed as Planned.
       
5. Attitudes   Use 5° a instead of 30° q at 21 sec. Proceed as planned at pilot's discretion.
       
6. Ball Nose   Proceed as planned to burnout. Do not disengage dampers. Maintain Hdot » -100 fps to China Lake.
       
7. Delayed engine light   Pushover to 0 "g" at 60,000 ft (Hdot » +1000 fps).
       
8. Inadvertent engine shutdown:

00 - 45 sec. Mud Lake

45 - 65 sec. Grapevine (2600 fps)

65 - 70 sec. Cuddeback (4000 fps)

70 - Up Edwards (4400 fps)