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Northrop HL-10 Piloted Lifting-Body Research Family

The Northrop HL-10 was a piloted lifting-body research aircraft flown by NASA to study the controllability and landing of a wingless reentry shape. Its successful flight program supplied data used in reusable-spacecraft design, including unpowered approach and landing techniques, and it became the fastest and highest-flying of NASA's heavyweight lifting bodies.

Northrop HL-10 Piloted Lifting-Body Research Family — NASA photo E-21089 · NASA content is generally not subject to U.S. copyright and may be used factually for educational or informational purposes with NASA acknowledged; no NASA endorsement is implied. Usage guidelines: https://www.nasa.gov/nasa-brand-center/images-and-media/ · Source

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Identity

Aliases: HL-10Northrop HL-10HL10Horizontal Landing 10
Family Name: Northrop HL-10 Lifting Body
Full Name: Northrop HL-10 Piloted Lifting-Body Research Family
Roles: researchexperimentaltechnology_demonstrator
Status: retired
Type: aircraft

Details

Aircraft Specs

Configuration: other
Operating Modes: land

Description

The Northrop HL-10 was a piloted lifting-body research aircraft flown by NASA to study the controllability and landing of a wingless reentry shape. Its successful flight program supplied data used in reusable-spacecraft design, including unpowered approach and landing techniques, and it became the fastest and highest-flying of NASA's heavyweight lifting bodies.

First Flight Year

1,966

Manufacturer

Links

Official Url: https://www.nasa.gov/aeronautics/nasa-aircraft/hl-10-aircraft/

Assets & Meta

Creation Time: August 7, 2026 at 20:31:13 UTC
Updated Time: August 22, 2026 at 08:03:06 UTC
Image: Download