The first atmospheric test vehicle for the X-38 prototype International Space Station crew return vehicle goes through a 'captive carry' flight test in fall 1997 under the wing of a B-52 aircraft at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, California. The X-38 flight test program is planning a February drop test of the atmospheric test vehicle after a successful recent redesigning and strengthening of the vehicle's parafoil parachute. Unpiloted drop tests of three such X-38 atmospheric test vehicles are planned to continue over the next two years