| NASA Center: |
Dryden Flight Research Center |
| Image # : |
ECN-2511 |
|---|
| Date : |
01/01/1970
|
|---|
|
Title
X-24A Powered Flight Drop from B-52
Full Description
The X-24A lifting-body research aircraft begins its rocket-powered
flight after being launched from the wing of NASA's B-52 mothership
during a 1970 research flight.
NASA B-52, Tail Number 008, is an air launch carrier aircraft, "mothership," as
well as a research aircraft platform that has been used on a variety of research
projects. The aircraft, a "B" model built in 1952 and first flown on June 11,
1955, is the oldest B-52 in flying status and has been used on some of the most
significant research projects in aerospace history. Some of the significant
projects supported by B-52 008 include the X-15, the lifting bodies, HiMAT
(highly maneuverable aircraft technology), Pegasus, validation of parachute
systems developed for the space shuttle program (solid-rocket-booster recovery
system and the orbiter drag chute system), and the X-38. The B-52 served as the
launch vehicle on 106 X-15 flights and flew a total of 159 captive-carry and
launch missions in support of that program from June 1959 to October 1968.
Between 1966 and 1975, the B-52 served as the launch aircraft for 127 of the 144
wingless lifting body flights. In the 1970's and 1980's the B-52 was the launch
aircraft for several aircraft at what is now the Dryden Flight Research Center,
to study spin-stall, high-angle-of attack, and maneuvering characteristics. It
also supported eight orbiter (space shuttle) drag chute tests in 1990. In
addition, the B-52 served as the air launch platform for the first six Pegasus
space boosters. During its many years of service, the B-52 has undergone several
modifications. The first major modification was made by North American Aviation
(now part of Boeing) in support of the X-15 program. This involved creating a
launch-panel-operator station for monitoring the status of the test vehicle
being carried, cutting a large notch in the right inboard wing flap to
accommodate the vertical tail of the X-15 aircraft, and installing a wing pylon
that enables the B-52 to carry research vehicles and test articles to be
air-launched/dropped. Located on the right wing, between the inboard engine
pylon and the fuselage, this wing pylon was subjected to extensive testing prior
to its use. For each test vehicle the B-52 carried, minor changes were made to
the launch-panel operator's station. Built originally by the Boeing Company, the
NASA B-52 is powered by eight Pratt & Whitney J57-19 turbojet engines, each of
which produce 12,000 pounds of thrust. The aircraft's normal launch speed has
been Mach 0.8 (about 530 miles per hour) and its normal drop altitude has been
40,000 to 45,000 feet. It is 156 feet long and has a wing span of 185 feet. The
heaviest load it has carried was the No. 2 X-15 aircraft at 53,100 pounds.
Keywords
B-52 X-24A NASA Flight Research Center
Subject Category
Lifting Bodies, Top 20 Dryden Aircraft, Unique Aircraft, X-Series Aircraft,
Reference Numbers
- Center:
DFRC
- Center Number:
ECN-2511
- GRIN DataBase Number:
GPN-2000-000205
Source Information
- Creator/Photographer: NASA
- Original Source: DIGITAL
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| Large |
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7,983 |
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Updated Jun 18, 2009
• History Questions: NASA History Office
• Responsible NASA Official: Steve Garber
• Author: Michael Hahn. Editor: Dwayne A. Day
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