X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 2-38-66 Scheduled Date : May 6, 1965

Pilot: John B. McKay

Purpose : To obtain data for the following programs:

1. Stability & Control Evaluation - (Glenn Robinson)

2. Star Tracker Checkout - (Lovic Thomas)

3. Advanced X-15 Landing Dynamics - (Jim McKay)

4. Landing Gear Modification Checkout - (Dick Rosecrans)

Instrumentation Engineer - Paul Harney

Launch: Mud Lake #1 on magnetic heading 170°, SAS Hi-Lo-Hi (8-4-8), ASAS Armed, heading vernier "Standby," both BCS "OFF," RAS "OFF," ventral off.

Launch point coordinates: 38° 05' N; 117° 17.5 W.

Star Tracker vernier to: Pitch 87°

Roll 90°

No. Time Alt V a q Event

1. 0 45 790 0 145 Launch, light engine, increase to 100%T. Rotate at 10° a (» 2g) until q = 30°.

2. 30 49 1900 10 625 q = 30°. Maintain q = 30°.

3. 38 59 2200 5 625 Pushover to zero g. (H-dot » 900 fps).

4. 66 80 4000 0 600 Extend speed brakes to 35°.

5. 81.5 91.5 5200 0 600 Shutdown, retract speed brakes, increase a to 5°.

6. 97 96 4900 5 485 Disengage ASAS, disengage pitch damper, perform pitch pulse engage pitch damper.

7. 118 95 4700 5 460 Disengage yaw and roll dampers, perform rudder pulse.

8. 133 90 4600 5 530 H-dot = -400 fps, increase a to 10°.

9. 143 88 4500 10 580 Perform rudder pulse. Engage roll and yaw dampers. Pushover to 6° a.

10. 168 85 4000 6 520 Disengage pitch damper, perform pitch pulse, engage pitch damper.

11. 188 86 3700 6 440 Disengage yaw and roll dampers, perform rudder pulse, engage roll and yaw dampers.

12. 206 85 3500 6 400 Disengage pitch damper, perform pitch pulse, engage pitch damper.

13. 224 81 3300 6 440 Disengage yaw and roll dampers, perform rudder pulse, engage roll and yaw dampers.

14. 244 77 3100 6 480 Disengage pitch damper, pull up to 7° a and perform pitch pulse, engage pitch damper.

15. 257 74 2900 7 480 Disengage yaw and roll dampers, perform rudder pulse.

16. 268 73 2800 7 440 Extend speed brakes 35° and hold 7° a.

17. 274 72 2600 7 410 Perform rudder pulse.

18. 284 71 2400 7 360 Retract speed brakes. Perform rudder pulse and engage roll and yaw dampers. Arm ASAS.

19. 306 68 2000 7 325 Begin 1.8g turn to a magnetic heading of 191°. Perform Star Tracker attitude task. Vector to High Key.

20. High Key - check flap and "squat" circuit breakers in.

21. 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 0°.

2. Emergency Lakes: Grapevine and Cuddeback.

3. Flight duration: Approximately 10 min.

4. Flight plan based on 59,750# thrust - engine #110

Total burn time at 100% = 84.5 sec.

Launch weight = 34,600#, burnout weight = 16,450#

Ground Jettison Check

Ground Rules for No Launch: 1. Radio, Radar, or TM Malfunction.

2. Malfunction of any SAS channel.

3. Malfunction of inertial platform.

4. Total ball nose failure.

Alternate Situations After Launch:

Failure Action

1. Radio or Radar Proceed as planned.

2. Total Pitch Damper Proceed as planned. Manipulate roll and yaw dampers at pilot's discretion.

3. Total Yaw Damper Proceed as planned.

4. Total Roll Damper Proceed as planned, turn yaw damper "off." Manipulate pitch damper at pilot's discretion.

5. Attitude Failure Use 5° a in place of 30° q at 30 sec. Disengage dampers at pilot's discretion.

6. Ball Nose Rotate at 2g instead of 10° a. Do not disengage dampers.

7. Delayed engine lite Pushover to "0" g at 53,000 ft. (H-dot = 900 fps).

8. Inadvertent engine shutdown

0 - 43 sec Hidden Hills

43 - 66 sec Grapevine (2500 fps)

66 - 71 sec Cuddeback (4000 fps)

71 - Up sec Edwards (4400 fps)


1.	0	45	790	0	145	Launch, light engine, increase to 100%T. Rotate at 10° a (» 2g) until q = 30°.

2.	30	49	1900	10	625	q = 30°. Maintain q = 30°.

3.	38	59	2200	5	625	Pushover to zero g. (H-dot » 900 fps).

4.	66	80	4000	0	600	Extend speed brakes to 35°.

5.	81.5	91.5	5200	0	600	Shutdown, retract speed brakes, increase a to 5°.

6.	97	96	4900	5	485	Disengage ASAS, disengage pitch damper, perform pitch pulse engage pitch damper.

7.	118	95	4700	5	460	Disengage yaw and roll dampers, perform rudder pulse.

8.	133	90	4600	5	530	H-dot = -400 fps, increase a to 10°.

9.	143	88	4500	10	580	Perform rudder pulse. Engage roll and yaw dampers. Pushover to 6° a.

10.	168	85	4000	6	520	Disengage pitch damper, perform pitch pulse, engage pitch damper.

11.	188	86	3700	6	440	Disengage yaw and roll dampers, perform rudder pulse, engage roll and yaw dampers.

12.	206	85	3500	6	400	Disengage pitch damper, perform pitch pulse, engage pitch damper.

13.	224	81	3300	6	440	Disengage yaw and roll dampers, perform rudder pulse, engage roll and yaw dampers.

14.	244	77	3100	6	480	Disengage pitch damper, pull up to 7° a and perform pitch pulse, engage pitch damper.

15.	257	74	2900	7	480	Disengage yaw and roll dampers, perform rudder pulse.

16.	268	73	2800	7	440	Extend speed brakes 35° and hold 7° a.

17.	274	72	2600	7	410	Perform rudder pulse.

18.	284	71	2400	7	360	Retract speed brakes. Perform rudder pulse and engage roll and yaw dampers. Arm ASAS.

19.	306	68	2000	7	325	Begin 1.8g turn to a magnetic heading of 191°. Perform Star Tracker attitude task. Vector to High Key.

20.						High Key - check flap and "squat" circuit breakers in.

21.						Before APU shutdown, cycle flaps, set stabilizer trim to zero, data off.


1.	Radio or Radar	Proceed as planned.

2.	Total Pitch Damper	Proceed as planned. Manipulate roll and yaw dampers at pilot's discretion.

3.	Total Yaw Damper	Proceed as planned.

4.	Total Roll Damper	Proceed as planned, turn yaw damper "off." Manipulate pitch damper at pilot's discretion.

5.	Attitude Failure	Use 5° a in place of 30° q at 30 sec. Disengage dampers at pilot's discretion.

6.	Ball Nose	Rotate at 2g instead of 10° a. Do not disengage dampers.

7.	Delayed engine lite	Pushover to "0" g at 53,000 ft. (H-dot = 900 fps).