X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 2-41-73 Scheduled Date : July 27, 1965

Pilot: Maj. Robert Rushworth

Purpose : To obtain data for the following programs:

1. RAS System checkout

2. Star Tracker - (Lovic Thomas)

3. Advanced X-15 landing dynamics - (Jim McKay)

3. Pilot altitude buildup
 

 Instrumentation Engineer - Paul Harney

Launch: Delamar, SAS Hi-Lo-Hi (8-4-8). ASAS Armed, heading vernier "Standby," both BCS "ON," RAS "OFF," ventral off.

Launch point coordinates: 37° 18' N; 114° 36' W.

Launch heading 214° magnetic.

Star Tracker vernier to: Y = 214°

q = 94.0°

f = 120.0°
 
 No.   Time  Alt  V a  q   Event
             
1. 0 45 790 0 145 Launch, light engine, increase to 100%T. Rotate at a » 11° a until q = 32°.
             
2. 29 49 1700 11 650 q = 32°. Maintain q = 32°.
             
3. 82 120 5150 7 130 Shutdown, pushover to a » 0°, RAS "ON."
             
4. 119 180 4800 0 - Extend speed brakes to 20°.
             
5. 131 190 4750 5 - Establish null attitudes using Star Tracker indicator attitudes.
             
6. 153 200 4650 - - Peak altitude.
             
7. 188 180 4800 - - Terminate Star Tracker experiment. Increase a to 18° (dh = -25°) for reentry.
             
8. 260 75 3900 18 - H-dot = -600 fps, pushover to a » 5°, reentry g » 3.6. Extend speed brakes to 35°. Maintain H-dot » -400 fps.
             
9. 290 67 3000 5 - Cuddeback, vector to high key. Speed brakes as required.
             
10.           High Key - check flap and "squat" circuit breakers in.
             
11.           Before APU shutdown, cycle flaps, set stabilizer trim to zero, data off. Star Tracker to "cage," then "STANDBY."

Notes:

1. q vernier will be set at 32°, a crosspointer will null at 18°.

2. Emergency Lakes: Hidden Hills and Cuddeback.

3. Flight duration: Approximately 10 min.

4. Flight plan based on 59,750# thrust - engine #103

Total burn time at 100% = 83 sec.

Launch weight = 34,650#, 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. Malfunction of ball nose.

5. Malfunction of BCS.

 Alternate Situations After Launch:

Failure Action
 
       
1. Radio or Radar   Proceed as planned.
       
  0 - 43 sec.    
       
2. (a) Total damper any axis or drop to ASAS (a) Alternate flight plan. Proceed as planned to 43 sec., pushover to a » 2°, extend speed brakes to 35°, shutdown at 5150 fps, retract speed brakes to 20° after shutdown.
       
(b) Attitude (b) Maintain a = 11° to 32 sec., pushover to a = 2° at 32 sec., proceed with alternate flight plan.
       
(c) Ball Nose (c) Maintain q = 32° to 43 sec., use alternate profile, use .1 g instead of 2° a.
       
  43 sec. to S.D.    
       
3. (a) Total damper any axis or drop to ASAS (a) Pushover to a = 2°, extend speed brakes to 35°, shutdown at 5150 fps (82 sec.), reenter at 20° a and 20° speed brakes.
       
(b) Attitude (b) Same as 3 (a).
       
(c) Ball Nose (c) Same as 3 (a), use .1 g to shutdown and q = 0° for reentry.
       
  After S.D.    
       
4. (a) Total damper any axis or drop to ASAS (a) Proceed as planned.
       
(b) Attitude (b) Proceed as planned.
       
(c) Ball Nose (c) Proceed as planned. Use q = 0° for reentry.
       
5. Delayed engine light   Proceed as planned.

8. Inadvertent engine shutdown

0 - 47 sec Delamar

47 - 66 sec Hidden Hills (2700 fps)

66 - 70 sec Cuddeback (3900 fps)

70 - Up sec Edwards (4200 fps)