Title
Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) first flight takeoff ca. 1997
Caption
A NASA SR-71 takes off Oct. 31, making its first flight as part of the NASA/Rocketdyne/Lockheed Martin Linear Aerospike SR-71 Experiment (LASRE) at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.
The SR-71 took off at 8:31 a.m. PST. The aircraft flew for one hour and fifty minutes, reaching a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 before landing at Edwards at 10:21 a.m. PST, successfully validating the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration.
The goal of the first flight was to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics and the handling of the SR-71/linear aerospike experiment configuration. The engine was not fired during the flight.
Info+
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Date
Oct 31, 1997
Credit line
Photo12/Universal Images Group
Reference
UMG22A39_414
License type
Rights managed
Available size
21,2Mb (938,2Kb) / 10,1in x 8,1in / 3039 x 2444 (300dpi)