Space History Photo: Hyper III, M2-F2 & RC Mothership

News
By
published
space history, NASA, unique aircraft
The Remote Controlled research staff and several of the lifting body models stand with the radio controlled mothership. (Image credit: NASA.)

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, the Remote Controlled research staff, from left to right: Richard C. Eldredge, Dale Reed, James O. Newman and Bob McDonald, display several lifting body models and the radio controlled mothership in January of 1968.

In support of the M2 lifting body program in the early 1960s, Dale Reed had built a number of small lifting body shapes and drop tested them from a radio controlled mothership. By late 1968, "Mother" had made over 120 launch drops. Next, Reed devised a program in which NASA research pilot Milt Thompson could remotely pilot "Mother" using an 8-ball attitude indicator from the ground.

Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight through photos (archive).

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

NASA Archives
NASA Archives
U.S. Space Agency

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.