Japan Shuttle, in Test Flight, Crash-Lands
Japan’s delta-wing space shuttle flawlessly approached the speed of sound while cruising over Sweden but tumbled into a field moments later for a crash landing that cast doubt on future trials of the experimental craft, a space official said.
The space shuttle, an unmanned craft only 12 1/2 feet long, took flight Tuesday, lifted by a stratospheric balloon to 13 miles above an international test site. During the shuttle’s descent, two of its three parachutes failed to open properly. The craft crashed into a field, breaking its left wing and nose cone.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
