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X-24A
Part of X-24
X-23 with X-24
X-23 with X-24
X-23 with Orbital X-24
Credit: Lockheed Martin
American manned spaceplane. 28 launches, 1969.04.17 to 1971.06.04 . The X-24A was the Martin Corporation's subsonic test version of the US Air Force's preferred manned lifting body configuration.

AKA: SV-5P. Status: Operational 1969. Thrust: 37.71 kN (8,477 lbf). Gross mass: 5,192 kg (11,446 lb). Unfuelled mass: 2,712 kg (5,978 lb). Specific impulse: 225 s. Height: 7.47 m (24.50 ft). Span: 4.16 m (13.64 ft).

This was flat-bellied with canted vertical stabilizers at the end of the rounded upper body. It was of the same configuration as the subscale X-23 Prime vehicle tested on suborbital flights in 1966 - 1967.

Martin and the USAF hoped it would lead to a larger Titan III-launched manned orbital ferry vehicle (cinematically embodies in the 'XRV' spacecraft in the 1969 film version of Martin Caidin's novel 'Marooned'). The X-24A was air-launched from an NB-52 carrier aircraft and reached a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 and a maximum altitude of 21,800 m during its flight test. The X-24A handled well as a glider, but in powered flight it exhibited a nose-up trim change that prevented it from flying at low angles of attack. Air Force interest then focused on 'high fineness lifting body' configurations and the X-24A airframe was converted to the X-24B configuration. The X-24A was also known as the SV-5P configuration. Two nearly identical SV-5J's, equipped with a Pratt and Whitney J60-PW-1 jet engine of 1360 kgf, were built but never flown.

Spacecraft delta v: 1,300 m/s (4,200 ft/sec). Battery: 194.00 Ah.



Family: Spaceplane, Suborbital, US Rocketplanes. Country: USA. Engines: XLR11. Propellants: Lox/Alcohol. Agency: Martin. Bibliography: 152, 158, 22, 48, 483, 49, 97.
Photo Gallery

X-24AX-24A
Credit: © Mark Wade


Lifting BodiesLifting Bodies
Lifting Bodies Comparative
Credit: © Mark Wade


Lifting BodiesLifting Bodies
Manned Lifting Bodies
Credit: NASA


X-24AX-24A
Credit: NASA



1957 July - August - .
1962 September - .
1965 January 13 - .
1969 April 17 - .
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1971 June 4 - .
1991 December - .

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