You've got those big military aerospace planes.

This environment induces high dynamic pressure, high temperature, and high heat flow loads particularly upon the leading edge surfaces of the aerospace plane.

Since the aerospace plane would reach velocities as high as 25 times the speed of sound, its design would be dependent on computer simulations.

"They can ride the space shuttle, or maybe that aerospace plane they keep talking about," Reggie said encouragingly.

But they hoped to send paying customers up on Sky Bridge, saving themselves from the additional expense of developing some kind of aerospace plane.

In addition, the military is developing an aerospace plane from which it might try to do reconnaissance work.

Thus the aerospace plane, in part because of the Pentagon's strong interest, could become the prime space venture of the 1990's.

President Bush last July ordered an all-out effort to build a national aerospace plane, popularly called the "Orient Express."

The panel said the science program "ranks above space stations, aerospace planes, manned missions to the planets and many other major pursuits which often receive greater visibility."

A. People don't realize Pratt and Whitney is working on the national aerospace plane through the NASA budget.