SP-4012 NASA HISTORICAL DATA BOOK: VOLUME III
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 1969-1978
 
 

Table 5-17. Chronology of X-24A/B/C Lifting Body Development and Operations

 

 

Date

Item

.

July 1967

X-24A rolled out by Martin Marietta Corp. and turned over to Air Force.

Feb.-March 1968

Ames Research Center conducts wind tunnel tests on the X-24A.

Apr. 4, 1969

USAF/NASA conducted the first captive flight of the X-24A.

Apr. 17, 1969

USAF/NASA conducted the first glide flight of the X-24A.

Sep. 9, 1969

USAF/NASA conducted the first powered flight of the X-24A.

Aug. 26, 1970

A fire in the rocket engine section caused minor damage.

Dec. 15, 1971

X-24A was shipped to Martin Marietta for conversion into a new configuration.

Feb. 4, 1972

NASA and the Air Force signed a memorandum of understanding on the use of the X-24B and other lifting bodies.

Oct. 11, 1972

Martin Marietta rolled out the X-2413, with delivery to the Flight Research Center scheduled for Oct. 22.

June 1973

Under an Air Force contract, Martin Marietta studied a growth version of the X-24B.

June 1973

Personnel at the Flight Research Center conducted taxi tests with the X-24B.

July 19, 1973

USAF-NASA conducted the first captive flight test with the X-24B.

Aug. 1, 1973

USAF-NASA conducted the first glide test with the X-24B.

Nov. 15, 1973

USAF-NASA conducted the first powered flight test with the X-24B.

Feb. 15, 1974

The X-24B flew at supersonic speed for the first time.

Oct. 1974

An X-24C model was subjected to wind tunnel tests at the Arnold Engineering Development Center

Oct. 25, 1974

The X-24B reached its maximum speed of Mach 1.76.

May 22, 1975

The X-24B reached its maximum altitude of 22 580 meters.

Aug. 5, 1975

The X-24B made its first runway landing.

Nov. 26, 1975

NASA conducted its last lifting body flight, using the X-2413.

Dec. 1975

NASA and the Air force signed a memorandum of understanding on the development of an experimental aircraft for hypersonic manned flight testing (X-24C).

July 20, 1976

Air Force held a prebid conference for potential contractors on the X-24C.

Aug. 1976

A new X-24C configuration was tested in wind tunnels at Arnold.

Aug. 31, 1978

NASA terminated its support of the X-24C project for budget reasons.

 


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