Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

Exploring the Unknown 443
Dyna Soar
Mr. Ames briefly reviewed the history of Dyna Soar up to its present
status of source selection between two contractors – Boeing and Martin-Bell. He
also discussed some of the philosophy of why it is considered as a hypersonic
research vehicle for exploring the flight corridor at speeds up to orbital and some
of the design features.
Some concern was voiced that the Dyna Soar concept utilizes the radiation
cooling principle to the limit of existing technology without leaving much room
for growth. Thus some members felt that Dyna Soar did not fit in the NASA
space exploration mission. Other members, however, recognized the need for
continuing to look at vehicle conrecognized [sic] the need for continuing to look
at vehicle concepts with orbital flight and conventional landing capabilities; Dyna
Soar does fit into this picture and also permits exploration of winged vehicles at
speeds up to orbital.
Project Mercury
Mr. Faget discussed in considerable detail the Project Mercury concept, its
operational and design features, the test and build up development programs, its
status and planned schedule. The material he discussed is largely summarized in
a document prepared by the Langley Space Task Group entitled “Project Mercury
Discussion” dated May 18, 1959, which was distributed to most Committee
members. A movie was also shown dealing with the Mercury capsule fabrication,
mockup, escape rocket system and orientation control system. Project Mercury
has pointed up the need for general research on large parachutes.
PROGRAM REVIEWS BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Mr. Loftin: - Sixty percent of Langley’s effort is currently related to space
and reentry flight broken down approximately as follows:
Satellites and spacecraft 24% (Including 7% on Project Mercury)
[5]
Ballistic Missiles 10%
Anti-Ballistic Missiles 6%
Boost-glide winged reentry 20%
A substantial amount of Langley’s work is on new flight concepts and is
across the board involving investigations of overall aerodynamic characteristics,
stability and control, heat transfer, structural aspects, systems analysis, pilot
integration and so forth. Examples of these are work on (1) winged reentry
at 90% angle of attack of a vehicle type having folding wing tips and a landing
L/D of 8 to 10, (2) a kite type concept utilizing folding high temperature metal