NASA retired its esteemed B-52B heavy-lift aircraft after nearly half a century of consistent service. The B-52B's initial mission carried aloft the first X-15 hypersonic rocket planes for testing. During the B-52B's lifetime, it has supported virtually all of NASA's aeronautical research needing an air launch vehicle. The aircraft's final mission launched the last X-43A scramjet in November 2004. The hypersonic research vehicle set a record-breaking speed of nearly Mach 10. The 'mothership' holds the distinction of being NASA's oldest aircraft and the oldest B-52 still flyable. A formal ceremony in December officially retired the aircraft and marks the end of an era in aerospace history.
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NASA ID
ksc_121704_b52_retires
Date Created
December 21, 2004
Center
KSC
Media Type
video
Photographer
NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Captions
Subtitles
NASA's B-52B launch aircraft takes off carrying the third X-43A hypersonic research vehicle on a captive carry evaluation flight September 27, 2004
Sep 27, 2004
NASA's B-52B launch aircraft takes off carrying the third X-43A hypersonic research vehicle on a captive carry evaluation flight September 27, 2004
Sep 27, 2004