Description : The High Speed Flight Demonstration project consisted of 25% scale models of HOPE-X to test navigation technologies and flight characteristics.
HOPE was a Japanese experimental spaceplane project designed by a partnership between NASDA and NAL (both now part of JAXA).
In 1997, well into the study, it was decided that HOPE-X should be modified into an unmanned cargo vehicle with the addition of automated approach and docking systems, and a cargo bay with doors similar to the one on the U.S. Space Shuttle. It was believed this would result in a "quick and dirty" cargo supply system for ISS, which was suffering from continued delays due to problems with the Shuttle program.
Christmas island post stamp and first flight of Hope X.

USA 2671 C - picture enhanced ?

Page : future · Ref: USA 2671 C

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Space Event :

HOPE-X (H-2 ORBITING PLANE, EXPERIMENTAL) · TEST FLIGHT