X-15 ship #1 rocket-powered aircraft flight research 8X12 PHOTOGRAPH NASA X

Description

IStockHistory
Categories
Other
Posters
Tapestries
Historical Photographs
Modern Photographs
Collectibles
Fine Art Giclee
X-15 ship #1 rocket-powered aircraft flight research 8X12 PHOTOGRAPH NASA X
The X-15 aircraft, ship #1 (56-6670), sits on the lakebed early in its illustrious career of high speed flight research.
The X-15 was a rocket-powered aircraft 50 ft long with a wingspan of 22 ft. It was a missile-shaped vehicle with an unusual wedge-shaped vertical tail, thin stubby wings, and unique side fairings that extended along the side of the fuselage. The X-15 weighed about 14,000 lb empty and approximately 34,000 lb at launch. The XLR-99 rocket engine, manufactured by Thiokol Chemical Corp., was pilot controlled and was capable of developing 57,000 lb of thrust. North American Aviation made three X-15 aircraft for the program.
The X-15 research aircraft was developed to provide in-flight information and data on aerodynamics, structures, flight controls, and the physiological aspects of high-speed, high-altitude flight. A follow on program used the aircraft as a testbed to carry various scientific experiments beyond the Earth's atmosphere on a repeated basis.
For flight in the dense air of the usable atmosphere, the X-15 used conventional aerodynamic controls such as rudder surfaces on the vertical stabilizers to control yaw and canted horizontal surfaces on the tail to control pitch when moving in synchronization or roll when moved differentially.
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.
Because of the large fuel consumption, the X-15 was air launched from a B-52 aircraft at 45,000 ft and a speed of about 500 mph. Depending on the mission, the rocket engine provided thrust for the first 80 to 120 sec of flight. The remainder of the normal 10 to 11 min. flight was powerless and ended with a 200-mph glide landing.
Generally, one of two types of X-15 flight profiles was used; a high-altitude flight plan that called for the pilot to maintain a steep rate of climb, or a speed profile that called for the pilot to push over and maintain a level altitude.
The X-15 was flown over a period of nearly 10 years -- June 1959 to Oct. 1968 -- and set the world's unofficial speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7) and 354,200 ft in a program to investigate all aspects of manned hypersonic flight. 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.
The X-15s made a total of 199 flights, and were manufactured by North American Aviation.
1960
NASA Photo / Photo Courtesy NASA
8 x12 Inch Glossy Photograph
Borderless Print
Our photographs are printed on premium photo paper with archival inks. Accurate color, realistic saturation, excellent neutral flesh tone reproduction and brighter colors are just a few of the attributes describing this photo paper. The standard longevity is 100 years in home display and 200 years in dark storage.This is a superior quality photograph, suitable for matting and framing.
Please be advised
combined shipping
will be calculated
when you pay for multiple photos! So please,
DO NOT PAY until after you buy your last photo and we send you an invoice
with the combined shipping charges.
Thank You
Payment Must Be Received Within 3 Days of Auctions End
Payment
We accept PayPal, the safest way to pay online.
Shipping
We ship both International and Domestic within the United States, US Territories and US APO/FPO addresses. For fast & ultra-safe shipping, ALL DOMESTIC USA ORDERS SHIP WITH ELECTRONIC DELIVERY CONFIRMATION. Items ship flat, unfolded in a super-sturdy, all new INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH, extra-sturdy cardboard, stay-flat shipping envelope with a large DO NOT BEND sticker.
Return Policy
30-day, no questions asked, refund or exchange guarantee. Simply return the item(s) within 30 days of receipt in the original shipping envelope and notify us via email. We will refund or exchange 100% of your item's price MINUS any original Shipping and Handling charge upon receipt of the return.
About Us
IStockHistory offers a unique collection of over 10,000 historical photographs, maps, posters, challenge coins and collectibles. Our extensive collection has been discovered in government archives, historical societies, and memorabilia auctions.
Visit our store!
© IStockHistory
_gsrx_vers_837 (GS 7.0.15 (837))