McDonnell-Douglas' entry, considered by many engineers
to be a technological success, began flights in 1993.
The one-third scale prototype had eight successful missions,
and was rolled into the DC-XA program.
That had three successful flights, but a fourth blew up
during a 1996 landing and funding soon dried up.

Specifications:
Height: 40 feet
Diameter: 13.3 feet at base
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Orbital.com
The Orbital Space Plane was to have been a reusable launch
vehicle that could serve as an emergency lifeboat for the
international space station and later as a crew transport vehicle.
But President Bush called on NASA to switch to a concept known as
the Crew Exploration Vehicle, a modular spaceship that could be used
for station trips as well as journeys to the moon and beyond. The CEV
may well look more like an Apollo-style spacecraft than an updated shuttle.

Specifications:
Wing span: 34.5 feet
Length: 37 feet
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The X-43 hypersonic airplane, also known as Hyper-X, rides on the
first stage of a booster rocket. While conventional rockets carry
both fuel and oxygen, the Hyper-X requires only hydrogen fuel. 
The oxygen needed to burn the fuel comes from atmosphere,
freeing the airplane to carry more payload.
If the technology is perfected, the craft could carry cargo at hypersonic
speeds. An unsuccessful flight was launched on June 2, 2001.
The rocket and booster malfunctioned and the flight was terminated.

Length: Approximately 12 feet
Weight: Approximately 2,200 pounds
Performance: Mach 7-10
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An 85 percent scale working prototype of the X-37, the
X-40A completed its first test flight on Aug. 11, 1998.
The X-40A is being used in testing to reduce possible risks to the
larger X-37, including drop tests from a helicopter to check
guidance and navigation systems planned for use in the X-37.
Eventually, NASA hopes the technologies demonstrated by the X-40A
will reduce launch costs from $10,000 per pound to $1,000 per pound.

Specifications
Length: 22 feet
Wingspan: 12 feet
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A reusable launch vehicle, the X-37 would operate at speeds
of up to 25 times the speed of sound. It could be carried into
orbit by a space shuttle or expendable launch vehicles.
Designers are hoping to improve the thermal protection
system by making it less fragile and less expensive.
The X-37 could orbit for up to 21 days and land on a
conventional runway. A test model is known as the X-40A.

Specifications
Length: 27.5 feet
Wingspan: 15 feet

More X-43 Crap
11/17/04