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M2F2 Lifting Body
Credit - NASA
Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Destination: Suborbital. Nation: USA. Manufacturer: Northrop.

The crashed M2-F2 was rebuilt as the M2-F3 with enlarged vertical stabilizers. Maximum speed achieved was Mach 1.6, top altitude 21,800 m. The final X-30 National Aerospace Plane configuration seemed to owe much to the M2.

Length: 6.77 m (22.21 ft). Maximum Diameter: 2.93 m (9.61 ft). Span: 2.93 m (9.61 ft). Mass: 3,600 kg (7,900 lb). Main Engine: XLR-11. Main Engine Thrust: 26.400 kN (5,935 lbf). Main Engine Propellants: Lox/Alcohol. Main Engine Propellants: 1,300 kg (2,800 lb). Backup Main Engine Thrust: 4.452 kN (1,001 lbf). L/D Hypersonic: 1.30. Spacecraft delta v: 1,000 m/s (3,200 ft/sec). Electrical System: Batteries.

M2-F3 Chronology
  • 1970 June 2 - M2 Flight 17 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    First M2-F3 flight. Maximum Speed - 755 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 218 sec.

  • 1970 July 21 - M2 Flight 18 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 708 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 228 sec.

  • 1970 November 2 - M2 Flight 19 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 690 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 236 sec.

  • 1970 November 25 - M2 Flight 20 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    First powered flight. Maximum Speed - 859 kph. Maximum Altitude - 15819 m. Flight Time - 377 sec.

  • 1971 February 9 - M2 Flight 21 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Gentry.
    Maximum Speed - 755 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 241 sec.

  • 1971 February 26 - M2 Flight 22 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 821 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 348 sec.

  • 1971 July 23 - M2 Flight 23 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 788 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18440 m. Flight Time - 353 sec.

  • 1971 August 9 - M2 Flight 24 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 1035 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18898 m. Flight Time - 415 sec.

  • 1971 August 25 - M2 Flight 25 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    First M2-F3 supersonic flight. Maximum Speed - 1163 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20513 m. Flight Time - 390 sec.

  • 1971 September 24 - M2 Flight 26 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 772 kph. Maximum Altitude - 12802 m. Flight Time - 210 sec.

  • 1971 November 15 - M2 Flight 27 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Glide flight. Maximum Speed - 784 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 215 sec.

  • 1971 December 1 - M2 Flight 28 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 1356 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21580 m. Flight Time - 391 sec.

  • 1971 December 16 - M2 Flight 29 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 861 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14265 m. Flight Time - 451 sec.

  • 1972 July 25 - M2 Flight 30 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 1049 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18562 m. Flight Time - 420 sec.

  • 1972 August 11 - M2 Flight 31 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 1168 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20480 m. Flight Time - 375 sec.

  • 1972 August 24 - M2 Flight 32 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 1344 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 376 sec.

  • 1972 September 12 - M2 Flight 33 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 935 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14020 m. Flight Time - 387 sec.

  • 1972 September 27 - M2 Flight 34 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 1424 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 366.5 sec.

  • 1972 October 5 - M2 Flight 35 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Maximum Speed - 1455 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20210 m. Flight Time - 376 sec.

  • 1972 October 19 - M2 Flight 36 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Manke.
    Maximum Speed - 961 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14360 m. Flight Time - 359 sec.

  • 1972 November 1 - M2 Flight 37 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Manke.
    Maximum Speed - 1292 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21730 m. Flight Time - 378 sec.

  • 1972 November 9 - M2 Flight 38 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Powell.
    Maximum Speed - 961 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14260 m. Flight Time - 364 sec.

  • 1972 November 21 - M2 Flight 39 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Manke.
    Maximum Speed - 1524 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 377 sec.

  • 1972 November 29 - M2 Flight 40 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Powell.
    Maximum Speed - 1432 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20570 m. Flight Time - 357 sec.

  • 1972 December 6 - M2 Flight 41 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Powell.
    Maximum Speed - 1265 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20820 m. Flight Time - 332 sec.

  • 1972 December 13 - M2 Flight 42 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Dana.
    Fastest M2-F3 flight. Maximum Speed - 1712 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 383 sec.

  • 1972 December 21 - M2 Flight 43 - Program: NASA Lifting Body. Crew: Manke.
    Last M2-F3 flight, also highest. Maximum Speed - 1377 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21790 m. Flight Time - 390 sec.

Bibliography:

  • Gatland, Kenneth, Manned Spacecraft, Macmillan, New York, 1968.
  • Miller, Jay,, The X-Planes, Aerofax, Arlington, Texas, 1988.
  • Miller, Ron, The Dream Machines, Krieger, Malabar, Florida, 1993.
  • Zhelyez x-plane book,
  • Houchin II, Roy and Smith, Terry, Quest, "X-20 (7 articles)", 1994, Volume 3, Issue 4, page 4.
  • Peebles, Curtis, Spaceflight, "The Origins of the US Space Shuttle - 1", 1979, Volume 21, page 435.
  • NASA Report, Flight-determined stability and control characteristics of the M2-F3 lifting body vehicle, Web Address when accessed: http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19740004421_1974004421.pdf.
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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.
M2-F3
Credit- © Mark Wade
M2F1 Lifting Body
The M2-F1 was the first lifting body configuration tested. This glider was made from plywood. It was later succeeded by the M2-F2 metal version....
Credit- NASA
The M2-F1 was the first lifting body configuration tested. This glider was made from plywood. It was later succeeded by the M2-F2 metal version.
M2F3 Lifting Body
M2F3 Lifting Body Launch from B-52...
Credit- NASA
M2F3 Lifting Body Launch from B-52
Lifting Bodies
Manned Lifting Bodies...
Credit- NASA
Manned Lifting Bodies