Detail View: NASA Great Images in Nasa Collection: X-15 Mated to B-52 Captive Flight
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Title:
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X-15 Mated to B-52 Captive Flight
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Full Description:
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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.
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Date:
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01/01/1959
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NASA Center:
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Dryden Flight Research Center
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Subject Category:
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Top 20 Dryden Aircraft,X-Series Aircraft
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Keywords:
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B-52,Boeing,Center,Flight,NASA,Research,X-15
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Audience:
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General Public
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facet_what:
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Earth,Gemini,Mercury,Space Shuttle Orbiter
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facet_where:
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Dryden Flight Research Center (DFRC),Mercury
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facet_when:
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01-01-1959
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facet_when_year:
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1959
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Image #:
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E-4935
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original url:
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http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-000109.html
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UID:
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SPD-GRIN-GPN-2000-000109
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Center:
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DFRC
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Center Number:
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E-4935
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GRIN DataBase Number:
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GPN-2000-000109
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Creator-Photographer:
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NASA
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Original Source:
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DIGITAL
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