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Woomera and the NEXST-1 Project. July 2002
In 2002 I wrote an article with reference to Japan’s Supersonic Plane Trial conducted at the Woomera Test Range on the 15th July 2002. Since that story was published however there have been a few structural changes in the space industry and NAL NASDA was one of those affected by these changes.
The National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan became an independent administrative corporation in April 2001 and later was merged with the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) into the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) on October 1, 2003. The National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan conducted various research and experiments in the aim of acquiring aerospace technology for future use and now these goals have been taken over by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Research on next generation supersonic transport (SST) technology is one of its goals. The New Generation Supersonic Transport in comparison with the 1970 Concord is expected to carry out a long haul in a short time, with more environmentally -friendly features, low noise and gas emissions and have a high level of safety and reliability. The aircraft if successful will carry twice as many passengers as the Concorde.
The prototype that was to be tested was an 11. 5m one tenth scale model of the aircraft. The Non-Powered Experimental Airplane should have been propelled into the sky by a solid rocket booster (NAL 735) accelerated into mach 2 at 18kms. During the flight data of its aerodynamic performances and many other tests would be accumulated and recorded before it lands using parachute and airbags. Unfortunately an anomaly occurred during the launch sequence on the 15th July 2002 and the trial was discontinued.
Woomera Test Range South Australia October 2005
(National Experimental Supersonic Transport Trials)
In July of 2005 JAXA (Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency) was back on the Woomera Test Range with over 100 NEXST1 Personnel preparing for the second launch of the NEXST1 aircraft. The date for the flight trial for the 7th Oct 2005 was finalized and approved for release by JAXA Headquarters. The launch has been delayed from the original target date of about 15 Sep 05 because of anomalies, found and rectified, during earlier phases of the preparation Two days before the impending flight trial date I was informed by email from the engineer in charge of the trial operation that unfortunately there will be no public or media viewing for this launch.
It is JAXA’s intention to carefully control information release for this trial as it wants to reduce the probability of bad press if problems do occur. The Range will be closed to all except operational personnel. I am sorry to all that would have loved to have experienced such an exciting event. JAXA do intend to have a media release in the Woomera Village 3 to 4 hours after the aircraft has completed its mission and this would be open to the public. This was the first time ever in all the years that I had produced commemorative envelopes that I was not able to attend the launch of any of these projects. It was disappointing but I could understand the reason for the media ban. During the heyday of the ELDO firings in the sixties and seventies some very bad reports were published by the media when problems occurred and delays occurred. I was lucky in this instance however as I still have some very helpful contacts that came to my assistance and gave me the information and pictures that I needed for my cover issue. I was able to produce two sets of a limited edition of fifty envelopes for a set of two commemoratives in four colour format. One of which shows the booster and plane attached, the other has a picture of the future Supersonic transport aircraft. I was lucky that I was able to purchase (with some difficulty) a set of stamps that I considered appropriate for this special Woomera project.
It has always been my policy to match the stamps as far as I was able to the project. The previous launch for instance had the Year of The outback stamps affixed. These complimented the NEXST1 project launched from the Australian Outback in that year. This issue of train stamps were designed to commemorate the 150thth anniversary of the railways, and released during the year of the opening of the Ghan line to Darwin. One stamp showed the Ghan standing in the station at Port Augusta where the outback meets the sea. With this issue of envelopes I designed the background of my covers with an aerial view of Woomera and Roxby Downs in the natural colour of the outback (a red sandy colour) and this also matches the colour of the stamp issue.
The weekend before the launch was wet and windy a most unusual occurrence at this time of the year in South Australia. However in Woomera on Monday October 10, 07.06 it was a beautiful spring morning and the launch went off perfectly.
Jaxa press released the details of flight trial result.The scaled experimental SST (Supersonic Transport trial) launched at 7:06 (am) on 10 October 2005 at the Woomera Test Range, Australia, flew and landed normally. Flight Conditions planned to acquire the technical telemetry data was achieved. Total flight time was 15 minutes and 22 seconds; test altitude and height were 12km and mach 1. 9-2.
Jaxa thanked all parties concerned for cooperating in operating in this trial of the scaled experimental SST.
