Editing Martin X-23 PRIME (section)

== Design ==
Each X-23A was constructed from [[titanium]], [[beryllium]], [[stainless steel]], and [[aluminium|aluminum]]. The craft consisted of two sections—the aft main structure and a removable forward "glove section". The structure was completely covered with a Martin-developed [[Ablation|ablative]] [[heat shield]] {{cvt|0.75|to|2.75|in|0}} thick, and the [[Nose cone|nose cap]] was constructed of [[Pyrolytic carbon|carbon]] [[Phenol formaldehyde resin|phenolic]] material.<ref name="NASA">{{cite book |last1=Jenkins |first1=Dennis R. |last2=Landis |first2=Tony |last3=Miller |first3=Jay |title=AMERICAN X-VEHICLES An Inventory—X-1 to X-50 : Monographs in Aerospace History No. 31, SP-2003-4531 |date=June 2003 |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration |location=Washington, DC |page=30}}</ref><ref name=Miller>{{cite book |last1=Miller |first1=Jay |title=The X-planes : X-1 to X-29 |date=1983 |publisher=Speciality Press |location=Marine on St. Croix |isbn=0933424353 |pages=148–149}}</ref>

[[Aerodynamic]] control was provided by a pair of {{cvt|12|x|12|in|0}} lower [[Flap (aircraft)|flaps]], and fixed upper flaps and [[Rudder#Aircraft rudders|rudder]]s. A [[nitrogen]]-gas [[reaction control system]] was used outside the atmosphere. At [[Mach number|Mach 2]] a [[drogue]] [[ballute]] deployed and slowed the vehicle's descent. As it deployed, its cable sliced the upper structure of the main equipment bay, allowing a {{cvt|47|ft|0}} recovery [[Parachute|chute]] to deploy. It would then be [[Mid-air retrieval|recovered in midair]] by a specially-equipped [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|JC-130B]] Hercules aircraft.<ref name="NASA"/><ref name=Miller/>