X-15 FLIGHT REQUEST

Flight No.: 3-20-31 Scheduled Date: June 26, 1963

Pilot: Major Robert Rushworth

Subject of test: Altitude Buildup, Horizon Scanner, I.R. and U.V. experiment.

Launch: Delamar Lake on a magnetic heading of 214°, MH-96 Adaptive, Roll hold "ON," R.C. "AUTO," BCS "ON," heading vernier to "Standby." Ventral off.

Launch point coordinates: 37° 18' N, 114° 36' W.
 
 
 No. Time  Alt  V   a q            Event
             
1. 0 45 790 2 145 Launch, light engine, increase to 100%T, rotate to 2g.
             
2. 15 45 1400 11 440 2g - Maintain 2g until q = 42°.
             
3. 29 50 2900 11 530 q = 42° - Engage q hold, use vernier trim to maintain q = 42°.
             
4. 79 150 5100 7 60 Shutdown at 5100 fps, disengage q hold.
             
5. 86 180 5000 7 8 Heading vernier to "·y."
             
6. 170 278 4250 - .2 Peak altitude. Extend speed brakes to 20°. Roll in 30° left bank and release (Do not use CSS). Maintain q = -5° until a = 23°.
             
7. 243 188 5000 23 10 23° a - roll hold off, heading vernier to "standby." Maintain 23° a until 5 g.
             
8. 282 85 4600 20 600 5 g - maintain 5 g until H-dot = -700 fps (Max reentry q » 760 psf).
             
9. 290 76 3900 15 760 H-dot = -700 fps, pushover to a » 3°, extend speed brakes to 35°, vector to High Key. Reaction control switch "OFF." Engine Master "OFF."
             
10. 313 68 3150 3 750 Cuddeback - if energy permits pushover to 2° a, disengage yaw and roll dampers and perform dv pulse. Reengage dampers.
             
11.           High Key. Check flap and "Squat" circuit breakers in.
             
12.           Before APU shutdown, cycle flaps, set stabilizer trim to zero, turn all data "Off."

 

Notes:

1. q vernier will be set at 42°, a cross-pointer null at 23°.

2. Emergency lakes: Hidden Hills, Cuddeback.

3. Flight duration: Approximately 10 minutes.

4. Flight plan based on 59,000# thrust engine.

Total burn time at 100% = 81 sec.

Launch Wt. = 32,800# Burnout Wt. = 15,000#
 

 Ground Rules For No Launch:
  1. FCS malfunctions as indicated on Analyzer check list.

2. Malfunction of inertial platform attitude.

3. Malfunction of ball nose.

4. APU gear box pressurization malfunction.
 

 Alternate Situations After Launch:
  Failure   Action
       
1. Radio or Radar   Proceed as planned.
       
2. Total Pitch/Roll Damper

(Turn Yaw off)

Total Yaw Damper

Fixed Gain in any axis

 (a) 0 - 40 sec

Push over to .2 g at 40 sec., reduce to 40% T at 40 sec., extend speed brakes to 20° at 60 sec and shut down at 5000 fps. Reaction Control "ON." Retract speed brakes after entry. (Hmax » 160K).
       
    (b) 40 sec - S.D.

Pushover to .2 g, reduce to 40% T, and extend S.B. to 20° when failure occurs; shutdown at 5000 fps. Reaction Control to "ON."
       
    (c) After S.D.

Reaction Control "ON," proceed.
       
3. Attitude (a) 0 - 40 sec

Use 6° a at 29 sec instead of 42° q, then proceed with 2 (a).
       
    (b) 40 sec - S.D.

Same as 2 (b).
       
4. Ball Nose (a) 0 - 40 sec

Same as 2 (a), heading vernier to ·y.
       
    (b) 40 sec - S.D.

Same as 2(b). Use q = -5° for reentry, heading vernier to ·y.
       
5. Delayed engine light   Proceed - shut down at 5100 fps.

6. For inadvertent engine shutdown:

0 - 40 sec Delamar

40 - 47 sec (2300 ft/sec)

47 - 65 sec Hidden Hills (2700 ft/sec)

65 - 70 sec Cuddeback (3900 ft/sec)

70 - Up sec Edwards (4300 ft/sec)