Experimental aircraft fails

A test flight of an experimental aircraft capable of speeding through air at 20 times the speed of sound ended prematurely the morning of Aug. 11 when the arrowhead-shaped plane failed and stopped sending back real-time data to engineers and scientists who were monitoring the mission. In the test flight, the aircraft, known as the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2, was launched at 7:45 a.m. from Vandenberg Air Force Base, located northwest of Santa Barbara, into the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere aboard an eight-story Minotaur IV rocket, made by <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="ORCRP011512" title="Orbital Sciences Corporation" href="/topic/economy-business-finance/orbital-sciences-corporation-ORCRP011512.topic">Orbital Sciences Corp.</a> Above, an artist's rendering of the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2. <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/08/vandenberg-launch-hypersonic-vehicle-fails.html"><span class="center_label">Story</span></a>

( Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency )

A test flight of an experimental aircraft capable of speeding through air at 20 times the speed of sound ended prematurely the morning of Aug. 11 when the arrowhead-shaped plane failed and stopped sending back real-time data to engineers and scientists who were monitoring the mission. In the test flight, the aircraft, known as the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2, was launched at 7:45 a.m. from Vandenberg Air Force Base, located northwest of Santa Barbara, into the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere aboard an eight-story Minotaur IV rocket, made by Orbital Sciences Corp. Above, an artist's rendering of the Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2. Story

  • Email E-mail
  • add to Twitter Twitter
  • add to Facebook Facebook
  • add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon
Comments are filtered for language and registration is required. The Times makes no guarantee of comments' factual accuracy. Readers may report inappropriate comments by clicking the Report Abuse link next to a comment. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.
Connect
Advertisement
Robert Redford's plea: Save Bristol Bay

Robert Redford's plea: Save Bristol Bay

Teacher's recording captures horror of tornado

Teacher's recording captures horror of tornado

Scientists uncover a secret about cockroaches

Scientists uncover a secret about cockroaches

Ice cream tour delivers the scoop on L.A.

Ice cream tour delivers the scoop on L.A.

Photos of the Day
More »

Video