Reducing the cost of space access, increasing reliability and safety, and providing operationally responsive space launch have long been the goals of future Earth-to-orbit space launch vehicle designers. In seeking to achieve them, NASA created the X-33 and X-34 programs-the X-33 to demonstrate rocket-powered single-stage-to-orbit technologies; the rocket-powered X-34 to demonstrate operational technologies and provide a test bed for them. Both were canceled before completion.
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