杏吧原创

In its toughest test yet, NASA鈥檚 鈥渇lying lifeboat鈥� made its first bumpy
landing last week after being dropped nearly 12 000 metres from a B-52 bomber.
But even as the unpiloted X-38 crew return vehicle deployed the world鈥檚 largest
parafoil to slow its descent to NASA鈥檚 Dryden Flight Research Center, in
Edwards, California, its future remained uncertain. Developed as a wingless,
unpowered escape pod for up to seven crew on the International Space Station,
the project may now be scrapped: some NASA officials favour a powered
version.