Space History Photo: Lifting Bodies on Lakebed

Three wingless lifting body aircraft are sitting on Rogers Dry Lakebed at what is now NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. (Image credit: NASA.)

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, the wingless lifting body aircraft are sitting on Rogers Dry Lake at what is now NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, in 1969.

From left to right are the X-24A, M2-F3 and the HL-10. The lifting body aircraft studied the feasibility of maneuvering and landing an aerodynamic craft designed for reentry from space. These lifting bodies were air launched by a B-52 mother ship, then flew powered by their own rocket engines before making an unpowered approach and landing. They helped validate the concept that a space shuttle could make accurate landings without power.

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. Its 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, visit: nasa.gov.