Mary L.

Sandy
Headquarters, Washington, D.C May 24, 1990
(Phone: 202/453-2754)

Maj. Robert Perry

Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
(Phone: 202/697-8123)

RELEASE: 90-71

DOD/NASA ANNOUNCE NATIONAL AERO-SPACE PLANE CONTRACTOR

TEAM

The Department of Defense and NASA announced today the immediate

establishment of a national team of contractors to continue the
challenging research and development of the National Aero-Space Plane
(NASP).

With the engineering and technology bases available from Rockwell

International, McDonnell Douglas, Pratt and Whitney, General Dynamics
and Rocketdyne, the federal government expects to benefit from the
synergism of ideas from these five organizations.

As a presidentially directed joint DOD/NASA program, the NASP

program objective is to develop and demonstrate hypersonic
technologies with the ultimate goal of a single-stage-to-orbit
vehicle. These vehicles would be capable of horizontal takeoff and
landing and long range, hypersonic flight within the atmosphere.

With the national contractor team, DOD and NASA take a unique
first step in formulating a single team of contractors working
together to develop technologies for future hypersonic aircraft. The
team will conduct the design and development activities necessary to
proceed with the X-30 research aircraft and develop a competitive
technology base for future systems.
 Instead of just one contractor coming forward with concepts in
materials, propulsion and structures, this new approach will allow the
government and the contractors alike to capitalize on five industry
bases of technological development.

The government anticipates that with breakthroughs in technology

from efforts such as NASP, the United States will continue to maintain
its world leadership position in aerospace technology.

-end-

TO: MDS/PRA Group

1615 L Street, N.W. - Suite 100
Washington, D.C. 20036

DATE & TIME: MAY 24, 1990

ORDERED BY: Edward Campion

NASA Headquarters/LMD
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20546 PHONE: 202/453-8400

PROJECT TITLE: Release No: 90-71

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MAIL DATE: MAY 25, 1990

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