KSC-04-S-00402
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Source: images.nasa.gov
Video source record: https://images.nasa.gov/details-ksc_121704_b52_retires
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Summary
| Description | NASA retired its esteemed B-52B heavy-lift aircraft after nearly half a century of consistent service. The B-52B's initial mission carried aloft the first X-15 hypersonic rocket planes for testing. During the B-52B's lifetime, it has supported virtually all of NASA's aeronautical research needing an air launch vehicle. The aircraft's final mission launched the last X-43A scramjet in November 2004. The hypersonic research vehicle set a record-breaking speed of nearly Mach 10. The 'mothership' holds the distinction of being NASA's oldest aircraft and the oldest B-52 still flyable. A formal ceremony in December officially retired the aircraft and marks the end of an era in aerospace history. |
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| Date | 2004-12-21 |
| Source | images.nasa.gov |