Space History Photo: X-1-2 on Ramp with Boeing B-29

The Bell Aircraft Corporation airplane, known as 'Fertile Myrtle' sits on the ramp with the Boeing B-29. (Image credit: NASA.)

In this historic photo from the U.S. space agency, the Bell Aircraft Corporation's X-1-2 sits on the ramp in January of 1949, at NACA's High- Speed Flight Research Station with the Boeing B-29 launch ship behind.

The B-29 was fondly referred to as "Fertile Myrtle." The painting near the nose depicts a stork carrying a bundle which is symbolic of the Mothership launching her babe (X-1-2). The pilot access door is open to the cockpit of the X-1-2 aircraft.

The National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) was a precursor to NASA. NACA was created by Congress in 1915.

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes, satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. It's astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, of visit: nasa.gov.