- X-23 PRIME
infobox Aircraft
name = X-23 PRIME
type = Lifting body
manufacturer =Martin Marietta
caption = Preserved X-23 PRIME at USAF Museum, Dayton, Ohio
designer =
first flight =21 December 1966
introduced =
retired =19 April 1967
produced =
number built = 3
status = Out of service
unit cost =
primary user =United States Air Force
more users =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = Martin X-24The
Martin Marietta X-23A PRIME (Precision Reentry Including Maneuvering reEntry) was a smalllifting body re-entry vehicle tested by theUnited States Air Force in the mid-1960s. Unlike ASSET, primarily used for structural and heating research, the X-23 PRIME was developed to study the effects of maneuvering during re-entry, includingcross-range maneuvers up to 710 statute miles (1143 km) off the ballistic track.Design
Each X-23 was constructed from
titanium ,beryllium ,stainless steel , andaluminium "where appropriate". The craft consisted of two sections — the aft main structure and a removable forward "glove section". The structure was completely covered with a Martin-developedablative heat shield 20 to 70 mm (¾ to 2¾ inches) thick, though the nose cap was constructed ofcarbon-phenolic .Aerodynamic control was provided by a pair of 12-inch (30 cm) square lower flaps, and fixed upper flaps and rudders. A
nitrogen gasreaction control system was used outside the atmosphere. At Mach 2 adrogue ballute deployed and slowed the vehicle's descent. As it deployed, its cable sliced the upper structure of the main equipment bay, allowing a 47-foot (16.4 m) recovery chute to deploy. It would then be recovered by a specially-equipped JC-130B Hercules.Flight testing
The first PRIME vehicle was launched from
Vandenberg AFB on21 December 1966 atop an Atlas launch vehicle. This mission simulated a low-earth orbit reentry with a zero cross-range. The ballute deployed at 99,850 feet (30.43 km), though the recovery parachute failed to completely deploy. The vehicle crashed into the Pacific.The second was launched on
5 March 1967 . This flight simulated a 654-mile (1053 km) cross range re-entry, and banking at hypersonic speeds. Several stringers on the main parachute failed to cut, preventing a successful recovery. It too was lost in the Pacific.The final PRIME mission was flown on
19 April 1967 , and simulated reentry from low-earth orbit with a 710 mile (1143 km) cross-range. This time, all systems performed perfectly, and the X-23 was successfully recovered. An inspection by a USAF-Martin team reported the craft "ready to fly again", although no later missions were carried out. The third X-23 is now on display at theNational Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Ohio.Specifications (X-23)
aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
ref=
crew=None
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 6 ft 9 in
length alt= 2.07 m
span main= 3 ft 10 in
span alt= 1.16 m
height main= 2 ft 1 in
height alt= 0.64 m
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main=
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main= 890 lb
loaded weight alt= 405 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (jet)=Nitrogen-gas reaction control thrusters
type of jet=
number of jets=
thrust main=
thrust alt=
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
max speed main=Mach 25
max speed alt=
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 710 miles
range alt= 1,143 km
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
* Hypersonic L/D Ratio: 1:1
armament=
avionics=ee also
aircontent
related=similar aircraft=
Molniya BOR-4
ASSET
sequence=
X-20 -
X-21 -
X-22 -X-23 -
X-24 -
X-25 -
X-26lists=
see also=
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