James Cast
Headquarters, Washington, DC             June 7, 1996
(Phone:  202/358-1779)


RELEASE:  96-114

REVOLUTIONARY NEW LAUNCH VEHICLE RENAMED FOR SPACE PIONEER

     NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin today announced 
that the AgencyÕs experimental DC-XA flight vehicle -- a 
vertical takeoff and landing rocket ship -- will 
be re-named ÒClipper GrahamÓ in honor of the late Lt. 
General Daniel O. Graham.

     "NASA is committed to developing and demonstrating 
reusable launch vehicle technologies.  Graham was a 
visionary who championed the promise of fully reusable 
single-stage-to-orbit vehicles at a time when the majority 
of the space community were skeptics.  We're doing this in 
commemoration of his vision in opening the space frontier," 
Goldin said.

      Formerly called the Delta Clipper, the four-story DC-
XA is currently conducting a series of unmanned flight tests 
in New Mexico for NASA.  The project was conceived to 
provide NASA's Reusable Launch Vehicle Program with an 
early, small scale flight demonstration of advanced 
technologies required by reusable launch vehicles.   The DC-
XA, developed by the Department of Defense, incorporates the 
latest advances in technology, propulsion systems and 
composite materials.

      A West Point graduate, Graham served in a number of 
high military and government posts including Deputy Director 
of the Central Intelligence Agency and Director of the 
Defense Intelligence Agency. He also founded and became 
Chairman of the Space Transportation Association to assure 
continued U.S. leadership and superiority in providing 
reliable, economical space transportation systems.

                        - end -

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