COLLECTION NAME:
NASA Great Images in Nasa Collection
Record
Title:
X-15 Mated to B-52 Captive Flight
Full Description:
One of three X-15 rocket-powered research aircraft being carried aloft under the wing of its B-52 mothership. The X-15 was air launched from the B-52 so the rocket plane would have enough fuel to reach its high speed and altitude test points. For flight in the dense air of the usable atmosphere, the X-15 used conventional aerodynamic controls. For flight in the thin air outside of the appreciable Earth's atmosphere, the X-15 used a reaction control system. Hydrogen peroxide thrust rockets located on the nose of the aircraft provided pitch and yaw control. Those on the wings provided roll control. The X-15s made a total of 199 flights over a period of nearly 10 years and set world's unofficial speed and altitude records of 4,520 miles per hour (Mach 6.7) and 354,200 feet. Information gained from the highly successful X-15 program contributed to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo manned spaceflight programs and also the Space Shuttle program.
Date:
01/01/1959
NASA Center:
Dryden Flight Research Center
Subject Category:
Top 20 Dryden Aircraft,X-Series Aircraft
Keywords:
B-52,Boeing,Center,Flight,NASA,Research,X-15
Audience:
General Public
facet_what:
Earth,Gemini,Mercury,Space Shuttle Orbiter
facet_where:
Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC),Mercury
facet_when:
01-01-1959
facet_when_year:
1959
Image #:
E-4935
UID:
SPD-GRIN-GPN-2000-000109
Center:
DFRC
Center Number:
E-4935
GRIN DataBase Number:
GPN-2000-000109
Creator-Photographer:
NASA
Original Source:
DIGITAL
