X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 2-46-83 Scheduled Date : July 20, 1966

Pilot: Maj. W. J. Knight
Purpose : 1. Pilot Altitude Buildup

2. Star Tracker Checkout (Welsh)
3. Alternate Pitot Static System (Webb)
4. Martin Ablative Tests (Watts)
5. Base Drag Study (Saltzman)

Launch: Delamar Lake on magnetic heading of 214°

SAS Hi-Lo-Hi (8-4-8), ASAS Armed, Both BCS "ON."

Heading Vernier to Standby, Ventral "OFF."

Star Tracker Vernier y = 214°, q = 0°, f = 0°

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

Instrumentation Engineer - Bob Brush

No. Time Alt V a q Event

1. 0 45 790 2 145 Launch, light engine at 75% T. Increase to 100% T. Rotate at a = 11° until q = 29°.

2. 26 50 1800 11 600 q = 29°. Maintain q = 29°.

3. 81 118 5100 7 190 Shutdown, pushover to a = 0°.

4. 120 170 4700 0 19 Experiment On (Tracker doors open).

5. 147 180 4650 0 13 Peak altitude, extend speed brakes to 20°. Establish Star Tracker attitudes (q & f = 0°). Maintain q = 0° until a = 16°.

6. 162 176 4680 5 15 Automatic closure of Tracker doors (elapsed time - 42 sec.)

7. 190 152 4800 16 38 a = 16°. Maintain dh = -25° during entry (a » 16°) until H-dot = -500 fps.

8. 245 75 4000 13 840 H-dot = -500 fps. Pushover to a » 4° and maintain H-dot » -200 fps. Retract speed brakes (Qmax = 840 psf, Nzmax = 3.4 g).

9. 302 64 3000 4 820 Abeam Cuddeback, vector to High Key. Speed brakes as required.

10. High Key - check flap and "squat" circuit breakers in, engine master "Off." Extend alternate pitot static tube.

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 29°, a crosspointer will null at 16°.

2. Emergency Lakes: Hidden Hills and Cuddeback.

3. Flight duration: Approximately 10 min.

4. Flight plan based on 60,600# thrust at 100%. Engine #106

Total burn time at 100% T. = 81.8 sec.

Launch wt. = 35,326 Burnout wt. = 16,754

In-flight jettison check.

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

2. Malfunction of any SAS channel.

3. Malfunction of inertial system.

4. Malfunction of ball nose.

5. Malfunction of BCS.

Alternate Situations After Launch:

Failure Action

1. Radio or Radar Proceed as planned.

2. Total Pitch Damper
Total Roll damper
(turn Yaw off)
Total Yaw damper
Failure to ASAS
(a)

(b)

(c)
0 - 35 sec.
Pushover to 2° a at 35 sec. Shutdown at 5100 fps.
35 sec. - Shutdown
Pushover to 2° a and reduce to min thrust when failure occurs; shutdown at 5100 fps.
After Shutdown
Proceed as planned, reenter at 15° a.

3. Ball Nose (a)

(b)

(c)
0 - 40 sec.
Pushover to zero g at 40 sec. Shutdown at 5100 fps.
40 sec. - Shutdown
Pushover to zero g and reduce to min thrust when failure occurs. Shutdown at 5100 fps.
After Shutdown
Use q = 0 and dh = -25° for reentry; heading vernier to "^·y."

4. Attitude (a)

(b)

(c)
0 - 40 sec.
Use 6° a at 27 sec. in place of 29° q, then proceed with 3(a).
40 sec. - Shutdown
Same as 3(b).
After Shutdown
Proceed as planned. Horizon reference to be used to maintain q and f.

5. Delayed engine light Proceed as planned.

6. Experiment doors fail to close at proper time. Actuate emergency door closure switch.

7. Inadvertent engine shutdown

0 - 45 sec Delamar

45 - 69 sec. Hidden Hills (2600 fps)

69 - 73 sec. Cuddeback (4100 fps)

73 - Up sec Edwards (4400 fps)


1.	0	45	790	2	145	Launch, light engine at 75% T. Increase to 100% T. Rotate at a = 11° until q = 29°.

2.	26	50	1800	11	600	q = 29°. Maintain q = 29°.

3.	81	118	5100	7	190	Shutdown, pushover to a = 0°.

4.	120	170	4700	0	19	Experiment On (Tracker doors open).

5.	147	180	4650	0	13	Peak altitude, extend speed brakes to 20°. Establish Star Tracker attitudes (q & f = 0°). Maintain q = 0° until a = 16°.

6.	162	176	4680	5	15	Automatic closure of Tracker doors (elapsed time - 42 sec.)

7.	190	152	4800	16	38	a = 16°. Maintain dh = -25° during entry (a » 16°) until H-dot = -500 fps.

8.	245	75	4000	13	840	H-dot = -500 fps. Pushover to a » 4° and maintain H-dot » -200 fps. Retract speed brakes (Qmax = 840 psf, Nzmax = 3.4 g).

9.	302	64	3000	4	820	Abeam Cuddeback, vector to High Key. Speed brakes as required.

10.						High Key - check flap and "squat" circuit breakers in, engine master "Off." Extend alternate pitot static tube.

11.						Before APU shutdown, cycle flaps, set stabilizer trim to zero, data off. Star Tracker to "cage," then "standby."


1.	Radio or Radar		Proceed as planned.

2.	Total Pitch Damper Total Roll damper (turn Yaw off) Total Yaw damper Failure to ASAS	(a) (b) (c)	0 - 35 sec. Pushover to 2° a at 35 sec. Shutdown at 5100 fps. 35 sec. - Shutdown Pushover to 2° a and reduce to min thrust when failure occurs; shutdown at 5100 fps. After Shutdown Proceed as planned, reenter at 15° a.

3.	Ball Nose	(a) (b) (c)	0 - 40 sec. Pushover to zero g at 40 sec. Shutdown at 5100 fps. 40 sec. - Shutdown Pushover to zero g and reduce to min thrust when failure occurs. Shutdown at 5100 fps. After Shutdown Use q = 0 and dh = -25° for reentry; heading vernier to "^·y."

4.	Attitude	(a) (b) (c)	0 - 40 sec. Use 6° a at 27 sec. in place of 29° q, then proceed with 3(a). 40 sec. - Shutdown Same as 3(b). After Shutdown Proceed as planned. Horizon reference to be used to maintain q and f.

5.	Delayed engine light		Proceed as planned.

6.	Experiment doors fail to close at proper time.		Actuate emergency door closure switch.