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| M2F2 Lifting Body - M2F2 Lifting Body with F-104 Chase Plane Credit: NASA. 14,475 bytes. 381 x 204 pixels. |
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Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. 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.
SpecificationTotal Length: 6.8 m. Maximum Diameter: 2.9 m. Total Mass: 3,600 kg. Total Propellants: 1,300 kg. Primary Engine Thrust: 2,700 kgf. Main Engine Propellants: LOX/Alcohol. Total spacecraft delta v: 1,000 m/s. Electrical System: Batteries.
- Module: Air Vehicle. Purpose: Manned space plane. Propellants: 1300 L/D Hypersonic: 1.3. Maneuver System Thrust: 2,700 kgf. Backup Maneuver System Thrust: 454 kgf. Maneuver System Propellants: LOX/Alcohol. Maneuver system delta v: 1,000 m/s.
M2-F3 Chronology
02 June 1970
M2 Flight 17 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. First M2-F3 flight. Maximum Speed - 755 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 218 sec.
21 July 1970
M2 Flight 18 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 708 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 228 sec.
02 November 1970
M2 Flight 19 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 690 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 236 sec.
25 November 1970
M2 Flight 20 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana.
 | M2-F3 Credit: © Mark Wade. 3,169 bytes. 679 x 348 pixels. |
First powered flight. Maximum Speed - 859 kph. Maximum Altitude - 15819 m. Flight Time - 377 sec.
09 February 1971
M2 Flight 21 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Gentry. Maximum Speed - 755 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 241 sec.
26 February 1971
M2 Flight 22 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 821 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 348 sec.
23 July 1971
M2 Flight 23 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 788 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18440 m. Flight Time - 353 sec.
09 August 1971
M2 Flight 24 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 1035 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18898 m. Flight Time - 415 sec.
 | M2F3 Lifting Body - M2F3 Lifting Body Launch from B-52 Credit: NASA. 15,023 bytes. 452 x 239 pixels. |
25 August 1971
M2 Flight 25 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. First M2-F3 supersonic flight. Maximum Speed - 1163 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20513 m. Flight Time - 390 sec.
24 September 1971
M2 Flight 26 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 772 kph. Maximum Altitude - 12802 m. Flight Time - 210 sec.
15 November 1971
M2 Flight 27 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Glide flight. Maximum Speed - 784 kph. Maximum Altitude - 13716 m. Flight Time - 215 sec.
01 December 1971
M2 Flight 28 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 1356 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21580 m. Flight Time - 391 sec.
16 December 1971
M2 Flight 29 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana.
 | Lifting Bodies - Manned Lifting Bodies Credit: NASA. 11,596 bytes. 467 x 127 pixels. |
Maximum Speed - 861 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14265 m. Flight Time - 451 sec.
25 July 1972
M2 Flight 30 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 1049 kph. Maximum Altitude - 18562 m. Flight Time - 420 sec.
11 August 1972
M2 Flight 31 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 1168 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20480 m. Flight Time - 375 sec.
24 August 1972
M2 Flight 32 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 1344 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 376 sec.
12 September 1972
M2 Flight 33 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 935 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14020 m. Flight Time - 387 sec.
 | 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. 6,086 bytes. 211 x 141 pixels. |
27 September 1972
M2 Flight 34 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 1424 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 366.5 sec.
05 October 1972
M2 Flight 35 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Maximum Speed - 1455 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20210 m. Flight Time - 376 sec.
19 October 1972
M2 Flight 36 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Manke. Maximum Speed - 961 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14360 m. Flight Time - 359 sec.
01 November 1972
M2 Flight 37 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Manke. Maximum Speed - 1292 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21730 m. Flight Time - 378 sec.
09 November 1972
M2 Flight 38 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Powell. Maximum Speed - 961 kph. Maximum Altitude - 14260 m. Flight Time - 364 sec.
21 November 1972
M2 Flight 39 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Manke. Maximum Speed - 1524 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 377 sec.
29 November 1972
M2 Flight 40 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Powell. Maximum Speed - 1432 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20570 m. Flight Time - 357 sec.
06 December 1972
M2 Flight 41 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Powell. Maximum Speed - 1265 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20820 m. Flight Time - 332 sec.
13 December 1972
M2 Flight 42 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Dana. Fastest M2-F3 flight. Maximum Speed - 1712 kph. Maximum Altitude - 20330 m. Flight Time - 383 sec.
21 December 1972
M2 Flight 43 Program: NASA Lifting Body. Flight Crew: Manke. Last M2-F3 flight, also highest. Maximum Speed - 1377 kph. Maximum Altitude - 21790 m. Flight Time - 390 sec.
Bibliography:- 22 - Gatland, Kenneth, Manned Spacecraft, Macmillan, New York, 1968.
- 48 - Miller, Jay,, The X-Planes, Aerofax, Arlington, Texas, 1988.
- 152 - Houchin II, Roy and Smith, Terry, Quest, "X-20 (7 articles)", 1994, Volume 3, Issue 4, page 4.
- 158 - Peebles, Curtis, Spaceflight, "The Origins of the US Space Shuttle - 1", 1979, Volume 21, page 435.
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Last update 12 March 2001.
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© Mark Wade, 2001 .
