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    NASA Facts B-52B Launch Aircraft

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    Bob Andrepont
    The B-52B aircraft, tail number 52-008, has supported many significant NASA projects since 1955. It has launched aircraft for the X-15, lifting body, and Hyper-X programs, helping to advance knowledge of hypersonic and aerodynamic flight. Most recently, it has launched the X-38 and X-43A aircraft and carried drag chutes to test space shuttle systems. At over 60 years old, it remains the oldest aircraft in active service at NASA and a vital resource for cutting-edge flight research.

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    NASA Facts B-52B Launch Aircraft

    Uploaded by

    Bob Andrepont
    219 views4 pages
    The B-52B aircraft, tail number 52-008, has supported many significant NASA projects since 1955. It has launched aircraft for the X-15, lifting body, and Hyper-X programs, helping to advance knowledge of hypersonic and aerodynamic flight. Most recently, it has launched the X-38 and X-43A aircraft and carried drag chutes to test space shuttle systems. At over 60 years old, it remains the oldest aircraft in active service at NASA and a vital resource for cutting-edge flight research.

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    NASA Facts booklet on the B-52B launch aircraft.

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    The B-52B aircraft, tail number 52-008, has supported many significant NASA projects since 1955. It has launched aircraft for the X-15, lifting body, and Hyper-X programs, helping to advance knowledge of hypersonic and aerodynamic flight. Most recently, it has launched the X-38 and X-43A aircraft and carried drag chutes to test space shuttle systems. At over 60 years old, it remains the oldest aircraft in active service at NASA and a vital resource for cutting-edge flight research.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    219 views4 pages

    NASA Facts B-52B Launch Aircraft

    Uploaded by

    Bob Andrepont
    The B-52B aircraft, tail number 52-008, has supported many significant NASA projects since 1955. It has launched aircraft for the X-15, lifting body, and Hyper-X programs, helping to advance knowledge of hypersonic and aerodynamic flight. Most recently, it has launched the X-38 and X-43A aircraft and carried drag chutes to test space shuttle systems. At over 60 years old, it remains the oldest aircraft in active service at NASA and a vital resource for cutting-edge flight research.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    The document discusses the history and role of NASA's B-52B aircraft, which has supported several important aerospace projects over many decades, including the X-15 and lifting body programs.

    The B-52B has supported major projects like the X-15 program, lifting body research, and tests of spacecraft recovery systems. It has also launched prototypes like the Pegasus rocket and X-38 spacecraft.

    Modifications to the B-52B include cutting a notch in the right wing to accommodate vehicle tails and installing various pylons under the right wing to carry research vehicles.

    NASA Facts

    National Aeronautics and


    Space Administration

    Dryden Flight Research Center


    P.O. Box 273
    Edwards, California 93523
    Voice 661-276-3449
    FAX 661-276-3566
    pao@dfrc.nasa.gov FS-2002-04-005 DFRC

    EC99 45080-13 NASA Photo by Carla Thomas


    Dryden's B-52B 008 carries an X-38 prior to launch.

    B-52B Launch Aircraft


    The B-52B used by NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., is an air launch and research aircraft
    that holds the distinction of being NASA’s oldest aircraft, as well as being the oldest B-52 on flying status. It has the
    lowest number of flying hours of any B-52 in operation, having been used exclusively in the role it continues to perform
    so reliably today.
    could be maneuvered to a safe runway landing -
    The B-52B, tail number 52-008, first flew on June 11, paving the way for full development of the space
    1955, and has been used on some of the most significant shuttle.
    projects in aerospace history.
    Miscellaneous Support
    The aircraft was the tenth B-52 to come off the Boeing
    assembly line and was a U.S. Air Force test aircraft for
    four years before it was assigned to support the X-15 NASA 008 was the launch aircraft for several
    research aircraft program at Dryden. remotely piloted aircraft flown by Dryden in the
    1970s and l980s to study spin-stall, high angle of
    Past Project Support attack, and maneuvering characteristics. They were
    the sub-scale F-15 spin research vehicle; the HiMAT
    X-15 Program (Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology) research
    aircraft; and the DAST (Drones for Aerodynamic and
    NASA 008 was one of two B-52s used as Structural Testing) which investigated loads allevia-
    “motherships” to air launch the three rocket-powered tion.
    X-15 aircraft for research flights. Aircraft 008 was the
    launch aircraft on 106 of the X-15 flights and flew a In 1977 and l978, and again in the 1983-1985
    total of 159 captive-carry and launch missions for the time period, 008 was used as the launch aircraft to
    X-15 program. test and develop the parachute recovery system used
    to recover the space shuttle’s solid rocket booster
    The X-15 was flown over a period of nearly 10 casings.
    years - June 1959 to October 1968 - and set the
    world’s unofficial speed and altitude records of 4,520 The first of four lengthy series of test flights
    mph (Mach 6.7) and 354,200 feet in a program to began in 1979 for an Air Force project to certify an
    investigate all aspects of manned hypersonic flight. extension of the operational life of the parachute
    Information gained from the highly successful X-15 recovery system on the F-111 crew escape module.
    program contributed to development of the Mercury, The tests concluded in 1992. The tests, using 008 as
    Gemini, and Apollo manned space flight programs, the airdrop vehicle for the parachute test articles,
    and also the Space Shuttle program. were part of a continuing Air Force program to
    improve the recovery system’s capability.
    The other B-52 used in the X-15 program, tail
    number 003, was retired in 1969 and is on permanent From July to October of l990, the veteran B-52B
    display at the Pima County Air Museum in Tucson, was used for a series of eight tests of a drag chute
    Ariz. deployment system being installed on space shuttle
    orbiters.

    The Lifting Bodies The drag chutes permit the orbiters to land safely
    in a shorter distance and also help reduce tire and
    Between 1966 and 1975, B-52 008 was the launch brake wear. The test unit, consisting of the test drag
    aircraft for 127 of the 144 flights of the wingless chute and its attachment and deployment systems,
    lifting body aircraft that contributed to development was installed in the tail of NASA 008, along with
    of the space shuttle. instrumentation to record loads and pressures on the
    deployed parachute and also on the structure of the
    Lifting bodies obtain aerodynamic lift from the aircraft.
    shape of their bodies. The addition of fins and control
    surfaces allowed research pilots to stabilize and The tests were carried out at landing speeds
    control the vehicles and maintain a predetermined ranging from 160 to 230 mph on a lakebed runway
    flight path. Research flights with the vehicles proved and also on the main concrete runway at Edwards.
    that vehicles entering the atmosphere from space They demonstrated the initiation, deployment,
    inflation, and overall operation of the orbiter drag
    EC01 0126-03 NASA Photo by Carla Thomas
    Dryden's B-52B takes an X-43 aloft.
    chute system. Data from the tests were used to vali- flight of the X-38 in March 1998, and continued into
    date predicted loads. 2001.

    First operational use of the drag chute system was NASA 008 also is the launch aircraft for the X-43A
    on Shuttle Endeavour, newest of the space shuttle Hyper-X program. The X-43A is a free-flight scramjet
    fleet, during its first landing, May 16, 1992. powered research vehicle.

    Pegasus
    Aircraft Modifications
    NASA 008 was used as the air launch platform for
    the first six commercially developed Pegasus rocket After coming to NASA, a major structural modifi-
    boosters. The three-stage Pegasus is designed to put a cation to the B-52B was the cutout of a large notch in
    payload into Earth orbit after being launched horizon- the aircraft’s right inboard wing flap to accommodate
    tally from a carrier aircraft’s wing. the vertical tail on the three X-15 aircraft. This notch
    also served the Pegasus and Hyper-X projects.
    Pegasus was developed by Orbital Sciences Corpo-
    ration under sponsorship of the Defense Advanced Installation of various pylons used to carry research
    Research Projects Agency (DARPA) as part of the vehicles and test articles to be air dropped has oc-
    agency’s Advanced Space Technology Program. curred over the years. The pylons have been attached
    under the right wing between the inboard engine pod
    The first Pegasus launch from NASA 008 was on and fuselage. Each pylon was subjected to extensive
    April 5, 1990, over the Pacific Ocean, about 60 miles drag, airflow and loads testing before use. On a
    southwest of Monterey, Calif. historical note, the Hyper-X Launch Vehicle pylon
    used to attach it to the B-52B is the same pylon used
    for the X-15 program.
    Current Project Support
    Special instrumentation has been installed aboard
    NASA 008’s support of the X-38 crew return NASA 008 to record and transmit test and research
    vehicle prototype spacecraft began with the maiden data and video to the Dryden Mission Control Room
    or other receivers during research missions. A second maximum operating altitude of more than 50,000 feet.
    Launch Panel Operator position was added to augment It is 156 feet long, and has a wingspan of 185 feet.
    the existing one for the Hyper-X project.
    The heaviest load Dryden’s B-52B has carried
    since it become the NASA launch aircraft was 53,100
    Aircraft Specifications pounds - the No. 2 X-15 with external fuel tanks used
    during that aircraft’s fastest flights. The second heavi-
    The NASA B-52B is powered by eight Pratt & est load, at 47,772 pounds, was the space shuttle solid
    Whitney J-57-19 turbojet engines, each producing rocket booster recovery system tests, while the third
    12,000 pounds of thrust with water injection. The heaviest load carried was the Pegasus rocket, weighing
    aircraft has a top speed of 390 knots (448 mph) and a in at 41,152 pounds.

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