
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 19, 1993                   TAG: 9308190185
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M.                                LENGTH: Short

CHEAPER ROCKET ACES ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE

A single-stage rocket that backers hope will be cheaper and more reliable than current space launch vehicles successfully completed its maiden voyage Wednesday, officials said.

The Delta Clipper-Experimental rocket blasted off at 4:43 p.m. local time, flew to an altitude of 150 feet, then stopped, hovered and moved to the side about 350 feet. Powered by its boosters, it then descended and touched down on its landing gear, Tom Williams, director of communications for McDonnell Douglas, said in a phone interview from Huntington Beach, Calif.

- Associated Press

by CNB