Knowledge (XXG)

Drop test

Source 📝

152: 563: 33: 395: 596:
On March 4, 2012, a C-17 dropped an Orion test article from an altitude of 25,000 feet (7,600 m). The capsule's parachutes successfully deployed between 15,000 to 20,000 feet (4,600 to 6,100 m), slowing the spacecraft to a landing on ground in the Arizona desert. The capsule landed at a
433:
were conducted to test the Space Shuttle's flight characteristics. Because the Space Shuttle is designed to glide unpowered during its descent and landing, a series of drop tests using a test orbiter were used to demonstrate that the orbiter could be successfully controlled in unpowered flight.
625:
landing systems. The airbags are located underneath the heat shield of the CST-100, which is designed to be separated from the capsule while under parachute descent at about 5,000 feet (1,500 m) altitude. The tests were carried out at ground speeds between 10 and 30 miles per hour (16 and
364:
to an unpowered landing or equip the orbiter with pop-out jet engines in order to make a powered landing. While powered landing design required carrying the engines and jet fuel, adding weight and complexity to the orbiter, engineers began favoring the powered landing option. In response, NASA
143:
to a height of ten feet and then dropped, simulating the impact of a landing at nineteen feet per second (5.8 m/s). The F6F was ultimately dropped from a height of twenty feet (6.1 m), demonstrating it could absorb twice the force of a carrier landing. Drop tests are still used in the
593:. For testing, the capsule is mounted on a pallet system and placed inside the cargo aircraft. Parachutes on the pallet are used to pull the pallet and capsule out of the rear of the aircraft; the capsule then separates from the pallet and begins its free fall descent. 138:
The landing gear on aircraft used on aircraft carriers must be stronger than those on land-based aircraft, due to higher approach speeds and sink rates during carrier landings. As early as the 1940s, drop tests were conducted by lifting a carrier-based plane such as the
458:
involved the release of an unpowered aircraft from a powered aircraft, these tests were not typical of drop testing because the orbiter was actually carried and released from a position above the SCA. This arrangement was potentially dangerous because it placed
379:, and then ignited rocket engines to increase speed and propel it to 60,000 feet (18,000 m). Once the rocket engine cut off, the high-speed and high-altitude conditions permitted the X-24B to simulate the path of a Space Shuttle orbiter under post- 330:, designed to carry and release the X-15, was installed under the right wing between the fuselage and inboard engine. A notch was also cut out of one of the right wing's flaps so that the plane could accommodate the X-15's vertical tail. 500:. The unmanned first flight test will drop the Dream Chaser prototype from an altitude of 12,000 feet (3,700 m) by a Columbia 234-UT helicopter, where it is planned that the vehicle will autonomously fly to an unpowered landing at 662:
with simulated internal organs were located inside the helicopter and used to assess internal injuries from such a crash. Due to extensive damage to the test helicopter after the second test, no third test was planned.
253:, have made both unpowered drop tests and powered drop launches. Prior to powered flights using its rocket engine, the HL-10 made 11 unpowered drop flights in order to study the handling qualities and stability of the 574:
crewed capsule by repeatedly dropping an Orion test vehicle into a large water basin. The tests simulated water landings at speeds varying from 7 to 50 mph (11 to 80 km/h) by changing the height of the drop
450:
to an altitude of 15,000 to 30,000 feet (4,600 to 9,100 m). After a series of captive-flight tests in which the orbiter was not released, five free-flight tests were performed in August through October 1977.
633:
to an altitude of 11,000 feet (3,400 m) and then released; the capsule's three main parachutes then deployed successfully and slowed the capsule's descent. Immediately prior to landing, the capsule's six
467:
immediately after release. As a result, the "drop" was conducted by using a series of carefully planned maneuvers to minimize the risk of aircraft collision. Immediately after release, the
582:
In 2011 and 2012, NASA also conducted drop tests of the Orion test vehicle's parachute systems and land-based landing capabilities. In each test, the Orion spacecraft was dropped from a
638:
inflated underneath the capsule in order to absorb some of the impact energy from landing. Similar drop tests are planned in order to conduct additional airbag testing, as well as
658:
helicopter donated by the U.S. Army, NASA dropped the helicopter at an angle from an altitude of 35 feet (11 m) to simulate a hard helicopter landing. Sophisticated
629:
In April 2012, Boeing conducted another drop test of its CST-100 prototype space capsule in order to test the capsule's landing systems. The test vehicle was raised by
173:
mothership during a drop test. The pylon used to carry experimental vehicles is visible near the top of the photo, between the fuselage and inboard right engine.
1339: 840: 471:
would climb to the right while the SCA performed a shallow dive to the left, allowing for quick vertical and horizontal separation between the two aircraft.
334:
was one of two such bombers modified to carry the X-15; while the other plane was retired in 1969 after the end of the X-15 program, NASA continued using
976: 626:
48 km/h) in order to simulate cross wind conditions at the time of landing. Bigelow Aerospace built the mobile test rig and conducted the tests.
1309: 950: 579:
above the basin. The range of landing velocities allowed NASA to simulate a range of possible entry and landing conditions during water landings.
884: 927: 864: 387:, demonstrating the feasibility of an unpowered lifting body design for the Space Shuttle. These successes convinced those in charge of the 95: 369:
to demonstrate the feasibility of landing a lifting-body aircraft in unpowered flight. In 1975, the X-24B aircraft was dropped from a
776: 1043: 547: 318:
by Air Force pilots, following a tradition of referring to aircraft numbered with multiple zeroes as "Balls" plus the final number.
145: 814: 63:
by raising the test vehicle to a specific altitude and then releasing it. Test flights involving powered aircraft, particularly
1413: 1264: 1078: 679: 527:
may be done to test the survivability of landing, primarily by testing the capsule's descent characteristics and its post-
501: 151: 148:
underwent drop tests to simulate its maximum descent rate of 26.4 feet per second (8.0 m/s) during carrier landings.
103: 583: 435: 416: 299: 654:
In 2009 and 2010, NASA conducted a pair of drop tests to study the survivability of helicopter crashes. Using an
551: 544: 486: 287: 283: 117:
to a target altitude for release. Low-altitude drop tests may be conducted by releasing the test vehicle from a
554:
in order to test the capsule's parachute systems prior to the start of manned testing of the Apollo spacecraft.
1418: 701: 443: 428: 404: 399: 391:
to commit to an unpowered landing design, which would save weight and increase the orbiter's payload capacity.
227: 37: 1020: 310:. Built in 1955, the B-52 was only the 10th to come off the assembly line, and was used by the Air Force for 587: 570:
In 2011 and 2012, NASA conducted a series of short drop tests on the survivability of water landings in its
540: 291: 64: 504:. The Dream Chaser successfully completed the free-flight and passed the drop test on November 11 over the 1317: 1176: 509: 494: 384: 1220: 1198: 550:
for use in drop testing. NASA conducted a series of tests in 1964 which involved dropping BP-19A from a
531:
landing systems. These tests are typically carried out uncrewed prior to any human spaceflight testing.
1386: 655: 388: 357: 351: 215: 211: 207: 183: 53: 1120: 954: 924: 909: 888: 861: 1361: 1148: 745: 562: 1071:
Back Down to Earth: The Development of Space Policy for NASA During the Jimmy Carter Administration
723: 528: 464: 307: 203: 170: 140: 234:
were also drop tested, from altitudes of up to 45,000 feet (14,000 m), in order to study its
571: 1094: 793: 1074: 818: 772: 576: 521: 380: 361: 239: 122: 998: 1242: 659: 639: 191: 110:
testing, or other theoretical design characteristics of an aircraft or spacecraft's design.
87: 342:
carried numerous experimental vehicles including the HL-10, X-24A, X-24B, X-38, and X-43A.
314:
before turning it over to NASA. Flying with NASA tail number 008, the plane was nicknamed
32: 1286: 931: 868: 118: 83: 1047: 590: 327: 269: 250: 161: 597:
speed of 17 mph (27 km/h), well below the designed maximum touchdown speed.
1407: 606: 524: 505: 423: 376: 99: 72: 490: 480: 394: 254: 235: 977:"A Brief History of Balls 8, the Famous B-52 that Served NASA for Almost 50 Years" 702:"NASA Fact Sheet - NASA's Gantry: Past, Present and Future Asset to Exploration" 643: 311: 303: 219: 114: 113:
High-altitude drop tests may be conducted by carrying the test vehicle aboard a
107: 102:
of a planned or crash landing. This allows the vehicle's designers to validate
91: 1095:"Astronaut-Transporting 'Dream Chaser' Spacecraft Preps for First Test Flights" 605:
In September 2011, Boeing conducted a series of drop tests, carried out in the
630: 610: 497: 439: 60: 841:"Lockheed Martin F-35 Navy Jet Confirms Carrier-Landing Strength Predictions" 383:
conditions. The X-24B successfully made two unpowered precision landings at
1153: 1125: 618: 231: 223: 187: 79: 49: 17: 680:"SNC building test schedule for Dream Chaser – Dryden Drop Tests upcoming" 326:
received significant modifications in order to carry the X-15. A special
338:
for drop tests until it was retired in 2004. During its 50-year career,
279: 275: 243: 199: 195: 56: 1265:"Orion PTV preparing for drop test on Wednesday – EFT-1 Orion progress" 614: 371: 322: 249:
Some experimental aircraft designed for airborne launches, such as the
566:
Orion test article after release from C-130 and separation from pallet
635: 622: 999:"X-24B Precision Landings Proved That Shuttle Could Land Unpowered" 75:
of the aircraft's rockets after release from its carrier aircraft.
561: 393: 366: 150: 31: 360:
in the 1970s, engineers debated whether to design the orbiter to
98:
of the test vehicle, to test its landing systems, or to evaluate
90:
descent to a landing site. Drop tests may be used to verify the
295: 166: 156: 144:
development and testing of carrier-based aircraft; in 2010, the
190:
aircraft have been drop tested or drop launched. Many powered
1149:"Restored Apollo Test Capsule to Land at Science Center" 375:
at an altitude of 45,000 feet (14,000 m) above the
48:
is a method of testing the in-flight characteristics of
945: 943: 78:
In the case of unpowered aircraft, the test vehicle
1287:"Orion spacecraft's parachutes tested over Arizona" 1340:"Boeing's Space Capsule Undergoes First Drop Test" 1310:"Space capsule tests aim to ensure safe landings" 1121:"Private Space Plane Poised for Big Test Flight" 226:were specifically designed to be drop launched. 463:in free flight directly in front of the SCA's 242:capabilities, and deployment of its steerable 1042:NASA - Dryden Flight Research Center (1977). 8: 1381: 1379: 815:"JSF simulated carrier landing successful" 508:. The unmanned vehicle made a landing at 274:Early experimental aircraft, such as the 40:being released during airborne drop test. 1267:. NASASpaceflight.com. February 26, 2012 1177:"Testing NASA's Next Deep Space Vehicle" 794:"Hellcats were built to take a beating" 671: 421:In 1977, a series of drop tests of the 346:X-24B role in Space Shuttle development 726:. Naval History Blog. January 12, 2011 365:conducted unpowered drop tests of the 27:Method of testing aircraft/spacecraft 7: 1243:"Future Space Flight: Orion Testing" 1362:"Chopper Drop Tests New Technology" 1314:Boeing Defense Space & Security 489:plans to conduct drop tests of its 1199:"Orion Continues to Make a Splash" 1069:Damohn, Ph.D., Mark (March 2001). 910:"Fact Sheet First Generation X-1." 885:"Fact Sheets - HL-10 Lifting Body" 159:research vehicle is released from 146:Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II 25: 1221:"Orion Drop Test - Jan. 06, 2012" 925:"Fact Sheet Bell X-2 Starbuster." 129:Aircraft and lifting-body testing 1387:"Chopper Crash Test a Smash Hit" 1342:. Popular Science. April 4, 2012 1044:"Shuttle Enterprise Free Flight" 792:Graff, Cory (December 6, 2012). 613:, to validate the design of the 134:Carrier landing simulation tests 1308:Memi, Ed (September 12, 2011). 434:These drop tests, known as the 282:, were carried aboard modified 817:. July 8, 2010. Archived from 771:. Zenith Imprint. p. 39. 1: 951:"NASA's Mothership Factsheet" 502:Dryden Flight Research Center 937:. Retrieved: March 26, 2013. 915:. Retrieved: March 26, 2013. 874:. Retrieved: March 26, 2013. 290:bombers. In the 1950s, the 724:"First Test of Angled Deck" 454:While free-flight tests of 1435: 1073:. iUniverse. p. 139. 887:. NASA.gov. Archived from 767:Graff, Cory (April 2009). 543:built BP-19A, an uncrewed 478: 417:Approach and Landing Tests 414: 349: 267: 1021:"X-24B Precision Landing" 487:Sierra Nevada Corporation 438:program, used a modified 436:Approach and Landing Test 356:During the design of the 1201:. NASA. December 2, 2011 1001:. NASA.gov. July 1, 2011 867:January 7, 2022, at the 520:Drop tests of prototype 444:Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 411:Space Shuttle Enterprise 405:Shuttle Carrier Aircraft 238:and handling qualities, 86:after its release in an 67:, may be referred to as 935:NASA Dryden Fact Sheets 930:March 15, 2017, at the 913:NASA Dryden Fact Sheets 872:NASA Dryden Fact Sheets 541:North American Aviation 302:bomber to be used as a 292:United States Air Force 92:aerodynamic performance 65:rocket-powered aircraft 1046:. NASA. Archived from 567: 516:Crewed capsule testing 510:Edwards Air Force Base 407: 385:Edwards Air Force Base 174: 104:computer flight models 41: 1414:Aerospace engineering 1320:on September 24, 2011 1179:. NASA. July 22, 2011 565: 548:Apollo command module 535:Apollo command module 397: 389:Space Shuttle program 358:Space Shuttle orbiter 352:Martin Marietta X-24B 306:for the experimental 216:Orbital Sciences X-34 208:Martin Marietta X-24A 178:Experimental aircraft 154: 35: 891:on December 18, 2021 748:. globalsecurity.org 682:. December 10, 2012 381:atmospheric reentry 204:North American X-15 141:Grumman F6F Hellcat 1364:. December 8, 2009 1129:. January 30, 2013 1101:. February 4, 2013 769:F6F Hellcat at War 746:"Fighter Aircraft" 660:crash test dummies 650:Helicopter testing 568: 408: 403:being released by 175: 42: 1023:. August 23, 2010 957:on March 18, 2022 821:on April 10, 2013 623:airbag cushioning 552:C-133 Cargomaster 446:or SCA, to carry 240:autonomous flight 230:of the unpowered 16:(Redirected from 1426: 1399: 1398: 1396: 1394: 1389:. March 11, 2010 1383: 1374: 1373: 1371: 1369: 1358: 1352: 1351: 1349: 1347: 1336: 1330: 1329: 1327: 1325: 1316:. Archived from 1305: 1299: 1298: 1296: 1294: 1283: 1277: 1276: 1274: 1272: 1261: 1255: 1254: 1252: 1250: 1239: 1233: 1232: 1230: 1228: 1217: 1211: 1210: 1208: 1206: 1195: 1189: 1188: 1186: 1184: 1173: 1167: 1166: 1164: 1162: 1145: 1139: 1138: 1136: 1134: 1117: 1111: 1110: 1108: 1106: 1091: 1085: 1084: 1066: 1060: 1059: 1057: 1055: 1050:on March 7, 2013 1039: 1033: 1032: 1030: 1028: 1017: 1011: 1010: 1008: 1006: 995: 989: 988: 986: 984: 979:. August 7, 2011 973: 967: 966: 964: 962: 953:. Archived from 947: 938: 922: 916: 907: 901: 900: 898: 896: 881: 875: 859: 853: 852: 850: 848: 837: 831: 830: 828: 826: 811: 805: 804: 802: 800: 789: 783: 782: 764: 758: 757: 755: 753: 742: 736: 735: 733: 731: 720: 714: 713: 711: 709: 698: 692: 691: 689: 687: 676: 646:jettison tests. 426: 194:, including the 21: 1434: 1433: 1429: 1428: 1427: 1425: 1424: 1423: 1419:Product testing 1404: 1403: 1402: 1392: 1390: 1385: 1384: 1377: 1367: 1365: 1360: 1359: 1355: 1345: 1343: 1338: 1337: 1333: 1323: 1321: 1307: 1306: 1302: 1292: 1290: 1289:. March 4, 2012 1285: 1284: 1280: 1270: 1268: 1263: 1262: 1258: 1248: 1246: 1241: 1240: 1236: 1226: 1224: 1219: 1218: 1214: 1204: 1202: 1197: 1196: 1192: 1182: 1180: 1175: 1174: 1170: 1160: 1158: 1157:. March 6, 2012 1147: 1146: 1142: 1132: 1130: 1119: 1118: 1114: 1104: 1102: 1093: 1092: 1088: 1081: 1068: 1067: 1063: 1053: 1051: 1041: 1040: 1036: 1026: 1024: 1019: 1018: 1014: 1004: 1002: 997: 996: 992: 982: 980: 975: 974: 970: 960: 958: 949: 948: 941: 932:Wayback Machine 923: 919: 908: 904: 894: 892: 883: 882: 878: 869:Wayback Machine 860: 856: 846: 844: 843:. June 23, 2010 839: 838: 834: 824: 822: 813: 812: 808: 798: 796: 791: 790: 786: 779: 766: 765: 761: 751: 749: 744: 743: 739: 729: 727: 722: 721: 717: 707: 705: 700: 699: 695: 685: 683: 678: 677: 673: 669: 652: 603: 560: 537: 518: 483: 477: 442:, known as the 422: 419: 413: 354: 348: 272: 266: 180: 136: 131: 96:flight dynamics 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1432: 1430: 1422: 1421: 1416: 1406: 1405: 1401: 1400: 1375: 1353: 1331: 1300: 1278: 1256: 1234: 1212: 1190: 1168: 1140: 1112: 1086: 1079: 1061: 1034: 1012: 990: 968: 939: 917: 902: 876: 854: 832: 806: 784: 778:978-1616732660 777: 759: 737: 715: 693: 670: 668: 665: 651: 648: 602: 601:Boeing CST-100 599: 559: 556: 536: 533: 525:space capsules 517: 514: 479:Main article: 476: 473: 415:Main article: 412: 409: 350:Main article: 347: 344: 312:flight testing 270:Balls 8 (B-52) 268:Main article: 265: 259: 251:Northrop HL-10 179: 176: 135: 132: 130: 127: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1431: 1420: 1417: 1415: 1412: 1411: 1409: 1388: 1382: 1380: 1376: 1363: 1357: 1354: 1341: 1335: 1332: 1324:September 18, 1319: 1315: 1311: 1304: 1301: 1288: 1282: 1279: 1266: 1260: 1257: 1244: 1238: 1235: 1222: 1216: 1213: 1200: 1194: 1191: 1178: 1172: 1169: 1156: 1155: 1150: 1144: 1141: 1128: 1127: 1122: 1116: 1113: 1100: 1096: 1090: 1087: 1082: 1076: 1072: 1065: 1062: 1049: 1045: 1038: 1035: 1022: 1016: 1013: 1000: 994: 991: 978: 972: 969: 956: 952: 946: 944: 940: 936: 933: 929: 926: 921: 918: 914: 911: 906: 903: 890: 886: 880: 877: 873: 870: 866: 863: 858: 855: 842: 836: 833: 820: 816: 810: 807: 795: 788: 785: 780: 774: 770: 763: 760: 747: 741: 738: 725: 719: 716: 703: 697: 694: 681: 675: 672: 666: 664: 661: 657: 649: 647: 645: 641: 637: 632: 627: 624: 620: 616: 612: 609:of southeast 608: 607:Mojave Desert 600: 598: 594: 592: 589: 585: 580: 578: 573: 564: 558:Orion capsule 557: 555: 553: 549: 546: 542: 534: 532: 530: 526: 523: 515: 513: 511: 507: 506:Mojave Desert 503: 499: 496: 492: 488: 485:In mid-2013, 482: 474: 472: 470: 466: 462: 457: 452: 449: 445: 441: 437: 432: 431: 425: 424:Space Shuttle 418: 410: 406: 402: 401: 396: 392: 390: 386: 382: 378: 377:Mojave Desert 374: 373: 368: 363: 359: 353: 345: 343: 341: 337: 333: 329: 325: 324: 319: 317: 313: 309: 305: 301: 297: 293: 289: 285: 281: 277: 271: 263: 260: 258: 256: 252: 247: 245: 241: 237: 233: 229: 228:test articles 225: 221: 217: 213: 209: 205: 201: 197: 193: 189: 185: 177: 172: 168: 164: 163: 158: 153: 149: 147: 142: 133: 128: 126: 124: 120: 116: 111: 109: 105: 101: 100:survivability 97: 93: 89: 85: 81: 76: 74: 70: 69:drop launches 66: 62: 58: 55: 51: 47: 39: 34: 30: 19: 1391:. Retrieved 1366:. Retrieved 1356: 1344:. Retrieved 1334: 1322:. Retrieved 1318:the original 1313: 1303: 1291:. Retrieved 1281: 1269:. Retrieved 1259: 1247:. Retrieved 1237: 1225:. Retrieved 1215: 1203:. Retrieved 1193: 1181:. Retrieved 1171: 1159:. Retrieved 1152: 1143: 1131:. Retrieved 1124: 1115: 1103:. Retrieved 1098: 1089: 1070: 1064: 1052:. Retrieved 1048:the original 1037: 1025:. Retrieved 1015: 1003:. Retrieved 993: 981:. Retrieved 971: 959:. Retrieved 955:the original 934: 920: 912: 905: 893:. Retrieved 889:the original 879: 871: 857: 845:. Retrieved 835: 823:. Retrieved 819:the original 809: 797:. Retrieved 787: 768: 762: 750:. Retrieved 740: 728:. Retrieved 718: 706:. Retrieved 696: 684:. Retrieved 674: 653: 640:drogue chute 628: 604: 595: 581: 569: 538: 519: 491:Dream Chaser 484: 481:Dream Chaser 475:Dream Chaser 468: 460: 455: 453: 447: 429: 420: 398: 370: 355: 339: 335: 331: 321: 320: 315: 273: 261: 255:lifting body 248: 184:experimental 181: 160: 137: 112: 77: 68: 54:experimental 45: 43: 38:test article 29: 644:heat shield 591:cargo plane 545:boilerplate 257:in flight. 236:aerodynamic 220:Boeing X-40 108:wind tunnel 71:due to the 18:Drop launch 1408:Categories 1080:1475908458 704:. NASA.gov 667:References 631:helicopter 617:capsule's 611:California 498:spaceplane 495:commercial 493:prototype 469:Enterprise 461:Enterprise 456:Enterprise 448:Enterprise 440:Boeing 747 430:Enterprise 400:Enterprise 304:mothership 264:mothership 224:NASA X-43A 115:mothership 61:spacecraft 1393:March 25, 1368:March 25, 1346:March 25, 1293:March 25, 1271:March 25, 1249:March 25, 1227:March 25, 1205:March 25, 1183:March 25, 1161:March 25, 1154:Space.com 1133:March 25, 1126:Space.com 1105:March 25, 1054:March 25, 1027:March 23, 1005:March 25, 983:March 26, 961:March 26, 895:March 30, 847:March 27, 825:March 27, 799:March 27, 752:March 27, 730:March 27, 708:March 30, 686:March 31, 619:parachute 539:In 1963, 294:provided 232:NASA X-38 188:prototype 182:Numerous 88:unpowered 50:prototype 46:drop test 928:Archived 865:Archived 465:tail fin 244:parafoil 200:Bell X-2 196:Bell X-1 192:X-planes 57:aircraft 862:"X-38." 636:airbags 615:CST-100 529:reentry 372:Balls 8 340:Balls 8 336:Balls 8 332:Balls 8 323:Balls 8 316:Balls 8 298:with a 262:Balls 8 162:Balls 8 1245:. NASA 1223:. NASA 1077:  775:  656:MD 500 577:gantry 522:crewed 222:, and 123:gantry 84:glides 73:launch 36:Orion 1099:Wired 588:C-130 572:Orion 427: 367:X-24B 362:glide 328:pylon 212:X-24B 119:crane 80:falls 1395:2013 1370:2013 1348:2013 1326:2011 1295:2013 1273:2013 1251:2013 1229:2013 1207:2013 1185:2013 1163:2013 1135:2013 1107:2013 1075:ISBN 1056:2013 1029:2013 1007:2013 985:2013 963:2013 897:2013 849:2013 827:2013 801:2013 773:ISBN 754:2013 732:2013 710:2013 688:2013 642:and 621:and 584:C-17 308:X-15 300:B-52 296:NASA 288:B-50 286:and 284:B-29 278:and 210:and 186:and 171:B-52 167:NASA 157:X-38 155:The 94:and 59:and 586:or 280:X-2 276:X-1 169:'s 121:or 82:or 52:or 1410:: 1378:^ 1312:. 1151:. 1123:. 1097:. 942:^ 512:. 246:. 218:, 214:, 206:, 202:, 198:, 165:, 125:. 106:, 44:A 1397:. 1372:. 1350:. 1328:. 1297:. 1275:. 1253:. 1231:. 1209:. 1187:. 1165:. 1137:. 1109:. 1083:. 1058:. 1031:. 1009:. 987:. 965:. 899:. 851:. 829:. 803:. 781:. 756:. 734:. 712:. 690:. 20:)

Index

Drop launch

test article
prototype
experimental
aircraft
spacecraft
rocket-powered aircraft
launch
falls
glides
unpowered
aerodynamic performance
flight dynamics
survivability
computer flight models
wind tunnel
mothership
crane
gantry
Grumman F6F Hellcat
Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II

X-38
Balls 8
NASA
B-52
experimental
prototype
X-planes

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.