lifting bodies

"Lifting bodies" was the rather prosaic name that NASA gave to the series of experimental re-entry craft they built during the late 1950s through early 1970s. These were the precursors to the space shuttles, and were intended to determine whether or not a craft could combine the blunt shape needed for a rocket-launched vehicle and the lift-generating shape needed to have directional control when returning through the earth's atmosphere. The name reflected the fact that the bodies themselves had an airfoil shape and thus created a certain amount of lift without actual wings.

Northrop and Martin-Marietta were the two main contractors, and at least 7 or 8 variants were made and flown. Most were launched from a pod attached under the wing of a B-52, at maximum operating altitudes of about 10 miles high. They would glide down to earth at--often rather alarmingly high speeds--but most of them survived and proved the concept was sound.

These exotic craft, functional in space or the atmosphere, were often remarkably beautiful. Some of the vertical stablizer configurations were particularly interesting. The metallic teardrop shape is an evocation of its day. We'd certainly like to have one in our garage!