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Crashed X-51A Test Results Released
cylonlover writes "The United States Air Force (USAF) has released the results of last August's third test of the X-51a Waverider, which resulted in the crash of the unmanned scramjet demonstrator. At a press teleconference featuring the Program Manager for Air Force Research Laboratory, Charles Brink, it was confirmed that a malfunctioning fin was the cause of the crash. However, engineers are confident of correcting the fault in time for the fourth test flight scheduled for (Northern Hemisphere) late spring or early summer of next year."
This should be easy, no?
1) Procure working torque wrench of sufficient size and strength.
2) *use* the damned thing next time.
I mean, really - not even one page of paper for the summary.
Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
thoroughly study the USAF Flight Test Engineering Manual
And the question I should you is, do you hate yourself? Why the fuck does everything have to be about politics for you?
This is not as simple as a loose bolt.
..the upper right-hand fin unlocked and deployed while the booster was still firing...but the booster’s guidance system managed to maintain the proper angle...After the other three fins on the cruiser deployed and powered up, the booster fell away, but the cruiser’s onboard computer couldn't maintain control because the electrically-driven actuator of the fourth fin was damaged or locked in place...
So here is the proper summary:
1. fin deployed early, but that was somewhat okay
2. three more fins deployed normally
3. the last fin did not deploy at all due to an electrical/solenoid problem
So no this would not require a torque wrench, unless you tape a multimeter to it and start whacking the solenoid mid-flight for good measure.
Code for:
"I'm sorry I don't understand!"..."Can you put it in simpler English, please?"
Write better English thus:
Learn to paragraph...
...but on the other hand, the Dragon Rider was successful in defeating John Malkovich... oh $%!#...I was supposed to finish that program for the fins! Aerospace Engineers are easily distracted by mediocre fantasy novels...
Wait, you're making broad characterizations about an Anonymous Coward??
For all you know, that's the only political statement that said poster has made all year. Besides it's government spending, that's always political. Always.
You're assertion is that the problem is the same as tightening the lug nuts on a car tire. The only lug nuts I see are the ones rattling around in your empty skull.
This aircraft needs to achieve almost Mach 5 before the engine even starts, so it requires an air drop and a rocket booster even to start working. It operates in a test domain that cannot be completely simulated or created in a ground test. This is exactly the kind of failure that can only be encountered by a live lest. You have to build it, fly it, and see if it breaks. There is no other way.
Given you complete lack of technical understanding, I would suggest that you stop wasting people's time on Slashdot and go somewhere more suited to your mental level. I hear that Disney has a lot of nice stuff for children. I think you would fit right in.
Why is Snark Required?
Jeez, I know slashdot has been ragging on X11 all week... but they're already testing X51?
You appear to be liberal, but hate the government.
Liberals started loving the government on January 20, 2009, didn't you get the memo?
Liberals hate government by the corporations, for the corporations, and of the corporations.
Didn't you get the marching orders?
At last! Someone in the northern hemisphere actually realises that the seasons are different between the hemisphere. Must be a European, all americans (living in america) I've ever talked to have no idea, some even think that summer is caused by the earth moving closer to the sun.
I suggest a revenge strike.
Editors, where are you on this?
This is Slashdot. We don't need no stinking editors.
..Which is a moon.
File not found. Fake it(Y/N)? _
of my Linux v0.99 box.
'All these worlds are yours except Europa. Attempt no landing there. Use them together. Use them in peace.'
Someone will be by later to revoke your geek card :P
No colour or religion ever stopped the bullet from a gun
I find it surprising that the submitter doesn't explain an acronym in a quoted text, but instead just puts the acronym after the full name, as if the acronym was more likely to be understood. And then he doesn't use the acronym ever again.
Says the man who quoted the movie and not the book
How is it different in the book? I've not read it for a while.
No colour or religion ever stopped the bullet from a gun
All the planets are yours, except Europa.
But it is ok to crash on Europa?
I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
I find it surprising that the submitter doesn't explain an acronym in a quoted text, but instead just puts the acronym after the full name, as if the acronym was more likely to be understood. And then he doesn't use the acronym ever again.
Actually, it's correct to define the acronym by placing it in parentheses immediately after the phrase that the acronym replaces. The phrase does not need to be quoted. You are correct, however, that you don't need to define an acronym if you only use the phrase once.
I think you are wandering a bit off topic (OT) with this one.
Have gnu, will travel.
However, engineers are confident of correcting the fault in time for the fourth test flight
but then
Until the exact cause of the fault is determined it won't be possible to correct it with certainty,
Makes you wonder which statement was intended to keep funding alive and which one was aimed at securing more engineering time in the schedule.
Have gnu, will travel.
And then you'd get part way done and the government would want it an ounce lighter, 1.23 inches shorter, and .08 inches narrower.
You see, this was not COTS, but custom.
The book was better.
Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
Sometimes you define the acronym if used only once because the acronym is more recognizable to the majority than the fully spelled out term. You use both the full term and the acronym to be certain that everyone can understand what you are referring to.
For example: as a military network guy I immediately recognize the term NIPRNET but you, as a civilian network guy better recognize Non-Classified Internet Protocol Network, or maybe not :-O
Says the man who forgot that the book was an adaptation of the screenplay co-written by Clarke and Kubrick and released after the film.