The events on this day in history for our heritage companies are noted below.
The earliest event was in 1967, the latest event was in 2004
Two milestone events (5 to 65+ years ago)
Human Spaceflight:
1967 – MOL program delays and cost growth analyzed by USAF; potential existed for need to upgrade MM Titan launch vehicle or re-compete the launch vehicle (no decision made; program delayed until 1970 with cost overruns; program eventually cancelled in 1969)
1975 – MM X-24B flight 48, Dryden Lake – Pilot Michael Love
Military and Classified Programs:
2004 – LAUNCH: LM GPS IIR-11, Delta 7925-9.5, LC17B, CCAFS – MILESTONE: 20 years ago
Exploration and Interplanetary Programs:
NONE
Earth-Monitoring and Civil Weather Satellite programs:
NONE
Commercial Programs:
NONE
Test, ICBM, FBM programs:
1969 – LAUNCH: Lockheed Poseidon C3, LC25C, CCAFS – MILESTONE: 55 years ago
Other:
NONE
The photo today is the X-24B lifting body in flight over Dryden Lake Test Area. Here are some specifications and drawings for the X-24 (both versions can be viewed at the National Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, Ohio):
X-24
Diagram of X-24A
Diagram of X-24B
Data from Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 65th ed. (1974–75)
General characteristics of X-24B
- Crew: 1
- Length: 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)
- Wingspan: 19 ft 2 in (5.84 m)
- Height: 10 ft 4 in (3.15 m)
- Wing area: 330 sq ft (31 m2)
- Empty weight: 7,800 lb (3,538 kg) zero propellant weight
- Max takeoff weight: 13,800 lb (6,260 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) total propellant weight (ethyl-alcohol/water fuel and LOX oxidiser)
- Powerplant: 1 × Reaction Motors XLR-11-RM-13 (Thiokol) 4-chamber liquid-fuelled rocket engine, 8,000 lbf (36 kN) thrust
- Powerplant: 2 × Bell LLRV landing rockets solid-fuelled rocket engine, 400–500 lbf (1.8–2.2 kN) thrust each (optional)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 868 kn (999 mph, 1,608 km/h) at 60,000 ft (18,288 m)
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.52
- Range: 39 nmi (45 mi, 72 km)
- Service ceiling: 74,130 ft (22,590 m)
- Wing loading: 42 lb/sq ft (210 kg/m2)
- Thrust/weight: 0.71
