X-38 Crew Return Vehicle prototype

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The X-38 Crew Return Vehicle prototype was an experimental NASA lifting-body spacecraft designed to serve as an emergency lifeboat for astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

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Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf experimental spacecraft
lifting-body spacecraft
prototype re-entry vehicle
agency NASA Johnson Space Center NERFINISHED
alsoKnownAs Crew Return Vehicle prototype NERFINISHED
basedOn HL-20 Personnel Launch System concept
cancellationDate 2002
cancellationReason budget constraints
carrierAircraft B-52 bomber NERFINISHED
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
crewCapacity 7
crewSurvivalSystem life support for several hours
pressurized cabin
designation X-38 NERFINISHED
designFeature autonomous guidance and control
blunt-body thermal protection system
lifting-body aerodynamic shape
parafoil landing system
firstFreeFlightTest 1997
guidanceSystem GPS-based guidance
autonomous navigation
height approximately 3.5 meters
intendedDestination Earth surface
intendedLaunchVehicle Space Shuttle cargo bay NERFINISHED
intendedOrbit low Earth orbit
intendedRole crew return vehicle
emergency lifeboat for the International Space Station
landingMode parafoil-assisted horizontal landing
length approximately 8.8 meters
manufacturer NASA Johnson Space Center NERFINISHED
mass approximately 9,500 kilograms
missionProfile autonomous deorbit from ISS
parafoil-guided runway landing
remain docked to ISS as lifeboat
unpowered gliding re-entry
notableTest successful parafoil landing tests
operator NASA
program NASA X-plane program NERFINISHED
reentryMode lifting-body glider
relatedProgram International Space Station NERFINISHED
safetyFunction emergency evacuation of ISS crew
independent crew return without Shuttle
spacecraftType uncrewed test vehicle
status canceled program
successorConcept Orion crew module (as later NASA crew return concept) NERFINISHED
testLocation Edwards Air Force Base NERFINISHED
testType drop tests from carrier aircraft
thermalProtection reinforced carbon-carbon and ceramic tiles
width approximately 4.5 meters

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Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

NASA X-plane series includes X-38 Crew Return Vehicle prototype