X-15 Mated to B-52 Captive Flight
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 ) 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.
Size: 4724px × 3676px
Photo credit: © NASA Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: &, -52, -15, -series, aeroplane, air, aircraft, airplane, altitude, aviation, b52, bell, carried, carry, corporation, experimental, groundbreaking, high, historic, historical, history, launched, mothership, naca, nasa, plane, research, rocket, rocket-powered, speed, usaf, white”, wing, x15, “black
