#rlv

" Nebun. Esti nebun. Esti nebun de legat."

Sunt. Sunt nebun. Sunt nebun de legat, si-mi am toate motivele sa-nnebunesc in continuare, fara sa-mi mai mustrez sufletul si fara glont de-argint pe teava. E 1 aprilie, e trecut de 01:11 si dorintele-s trecute-n agenda deja. Urmeaza o saptamana-ncarcata, urmeaza un delir de cateva zile, urmeaza rauri peste randuri si-as vrea liniste. Si cata liniste as vrea, nu-mi permit sa o am. Nu acum, nu azi, nu curand, sau poate-mi pare bine si-am sa va urez o zi buna, sau o seara placuta. Nu tine de mine. Mi-e peste mana si-am invatat sa accept asta, si totusi, nu-nseamna ca o sa ma opresc acum. "Mai aprinde niste cancer si mai toarna niste ulcer". Acum e tarziu, sunt bleg si tot ce vreau e sa treaca si saptamana asta. Inapoi pe pilot automat, ne-auzim pe data viitoare, dar sa nu uitam, sunt "nebun de legat", si asta-i doar o manifestare a unui tip frustrat. Ce faci cand adormi si te trezesti intr-un cosmar? Insomnii, visezi in continuare sau faci tot ce-ti sta-n putinta ca visele sa-ti devina realitate?

"A NASA SR-71 successfully completed its first flight October 31, 1997 as part of the NASA/Rocketdyne/Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.

The SR-71 took off at 8:31 a.m. PST. The aircraft flew for one hour and fifty minutes, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 before landing at Edwards at 10:21 a.m. PST, successfully validating the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration.

The goal of the first flight was to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics and the handling of the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration. The engine was not fired during the flight."

Date: October 31, 1997

Video of Rockwell proposal for the X-33.

Video of the Lockheed Martin proposal for the X-33.

"This artist's rendering depicts the McDonnell Douglas X-33 proposal. this was to serve as a technology demonstrator of a Single-Stage-To-Orbit (SSTO) Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). McDonnell Douglas submitted a vertical landing configuration design which used liquid oxygen/hydrogen engines. NASA considered design submissions from Rockwell, Lockheed Martin, and McDonnell Douglas. NASA selected Lockheed Martin's X-33 design on 2 July 1996. The RLV technology program was a cooperative agreement between NASA and industry. The goal of the RLV technology program was to produce significant reductions in the cost of access to space, and to promote the creation and delivery of new space services and other activities that would have improve U.S. economic competitiveness."

Date: May 1996

Computer art by J. Frassanito & Associates