NASA X-38

The 1995–2002 program also developed concepts for a crew return vehicle design that could be modified for other uses, such as a possible joint U.S. and international human spacecraft that could be launched on the French Ariane 5 booster.

[1] The program would eventually develop a total of three test prototype flight demonstrators for the proposed Crew Return Vehicle, each having incremental improvements on its predecessor.

During the early years of ISS on-orbit construction, the crew was limited to three, corresponding to a single Russian Soyuz TMA vehicle that could be docked to the station at any given time.

Later in May 2009 provisions were added for a total of two docked Soyuz vehicles simultaneously and the ISS crew was increased to 6 members.

NASA has designed several crew return vehicles over the years with varying levels of detail.

The program manager was John Muratore, while the Flight Test Engineer was future NASA astronaut Michael E. Fossum.

[6] The X-38 design used a wingless lifting body concept originally developed by the U.S. Air Force in the mid-1960s during the X-24 program.

He met with Muratore (1992-93) and shared his design of the X-24A that he used to present the concept of the X-38 to NASA (Wingless Flight, Chapter 9, pages 186-88).

If the crew became sick or injured during the course of their mission, they would enter the rescue vehicle through a hatched docking mechanism.

The eight-thruster DPS would adjust the spacecraft's attitude and retrofire to slow the X-38 down, allowing gravitational attraction to pull it back into Earth's atmosphere.

In addition, seven high-altitude low-opening (HALO) parachute packs were included in the crew cabin, a measure designed to provide for the ability to bail out of the craft.

Severe cost overruns plagued the ISS program during its development and construction during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

NASA Administrator, Sean O'Keefe, appointed by President George W. Bush, stated in December 2001 that he intended to adhere to the recommendations of the IMCE, including the implementation of Core Complete.

[citation needed] As of January 2024[update], the X-38 V-131R is on loan from NASA to the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.

[citation needed] Data from [8]General characteristics Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

The X-38 V-132 research vehicle drops away from NASA 's B-52 mothership immediately after being released from the wing pylon
The X-38 CRV prototype makes a gentle lakebed landing at the end of a July 1999 test flight at the Dryden Flight Research Center with a fully deployed parafoil .
Graphical rendering of the X-38, with vehicle cutaway revealing 7-member crew's position during re-entry.
X-38: Low-Cost, High-Tech Space Rescue
Artist's rendering of a docked X-38 being ingressed by a crew member through a docking mechanism.
Conceptual depiction of the deorbital propulsion system (DPS) attached to the rear of a crew return vehicle. The DPS would fire its eight thrusters to slow the spacecraft to below orbital velocity in order to re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
The X-38 Development Team with V131R, V132, and V201 on the east side of B220 at the Johnson Space Center at the close of the project (2003)
X-38 V-201 orbital test vehicle previously located at Bldg. 220 at Johnson Space Center. Now held in the South end of Building 10, Houston, Texas
X-38 V-201 orbital test vehicle as currently displayed atop its ground mobility carrier at NASA-Johnson Space Center behind Building 49.
The fifth test drop flight of X-38. The aircraft is released from a B-52 mothership, free falls for a while, opens and fully deploys the parafoil and finally makes a gentle landing