NASA's Famed B-52B "Mothership" Aircraft To Retire

AEROSPACE

File photo of NASA's B-52B.

Edwards AFB CA (SPX) Dec 09, 2004
Having dropped advanced flight research vehicles rather than bombs over an illustrious career spanning nearly a half century, NASA's B-52B "mothership" air-launch aircraft is being retired.

The Air Force Flight Test Center and NASA Dryden Flight Research Center will jointly host a formal retirement ceremony for the revered aircraft at 10 a.m. on Dec. 17, 2004 at NASA Dryden, located on Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

The ceremony will include a formal transfer of the B-52B by NASA Dryden center director Kevin Petersen to Brig. Gen. Curtis M. Bedke, commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center, for its final disposition. Tentative plans call for placing the aircraft on permanent display at Edwards AFB.

Operated by NASA Dryden for most of its lifetime, NASA's venerable B-52B has participated in some of the most significant projects in aerospace history. At retirement, the air launch and research aircraft holds the distinction of being NASA's oldest aircraft, as well as being the oldest B-52 still flyable.

At the same time, it has the lowest number of flying hours of any B-52 in operation, having been used exclusively in the role it has continued to perform so reliably for nearly 50 years.

Bearing NASA tail number 008, the B-52B first flew in June 1955 and was flown by the Air Force in the B-52 test program for several years before it was modified to support the X-15 research aircraft program at NASA Dryden in 1959. It flew its last research mission Nov. 16, 2004, launching the scramjet-powered X-43A on its record Mach 9.6 flight over the Pacific Ocean.

LAUNCH PAD

Russia To Launch Indonesian Satellite

Moscow, Russia (UPI) Dec 07, 2004
Russia will put an Indonesian satellite into orbit around the Earth in 2007 using an air-launch system, local media reported Tuesday. The system offered by the Russian Air Launch Aerospace Corporation includes an Antonov An-124-100AL carrier aircraft as a flying launch pad, a Polyot two-stage launch vehicle and an upper stage booster.

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2016 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.