NASA's X-38 Crew Return Vehicle prototype (designed as a lifeboat for the International Space Station) made a successful test landing on 2 Nov. The spacecraft was released at high altitude by a B-52 bomber. Due to unknown problems with the flight control software, the unmanned X-38 conducted an unscheduled 360-degree roll just after release from the bomber. The X-38 is an 80%-scale version of the future "lifeboat" CRV.--Stephen V Cole