NASA X-24A Lifting-Body Research Aircraft Family
The NASA/USAF X-24A was a Martin-built, bulbous lifting-body research aircraft flown in a joint program to test whether a wingless vehicle designed for atmospheric reentry could be controlled and landed unpowered. It flew 28 research missions from April 1969 through June 1971, including glide and rocket-powered flights, and its aerodynamic database later informed the X-24B conversion and X-38 crew-return-vehicle work.
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Identity
- Aliases
- X-24AMartin X-24AX-24A lifting bodySV-5PNASA X-24A Lifting Body
- Family Name
- NASA X-24A
- Full Name
- NASA X-24A Lifting-Body Research Aircraft Family
- Roles
- researchexperimentaltechnology_demonstrator
- Status
- retired
- Type
- aircraft
Details
- Aircraft Specs
- Configuration
- other
- Operating Modes
- land
- Description
- The NASA/USAF X-24A was a Martin-built, bulbous lifting-body research aircraft flown in a joint program to test whether a wingless vehicle designed for atmospheric reentry could be controlled and landed unpowered. It flew 28 research missions from April 1969 through June 1971, including glide and rocket-powered flights, and its aerodynamic database later informed the X-24B conversion and X-38 crew-return-vehicle work.
- First Flight Year
- 1,969
- Last Flight Year
- 1,971
Links
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 13, 2026 at 21:24:37 UTC
- Updated Time
- August 13, 2026 at 21:24:37 UTC