X-15 question

[bdewoody]

I was just looking at pictures of the X-15 at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum and noticed some sort of pods on the wingtips. I'm working on a model of the X-15 and never noticed these before.<br /><br />Does anyone here know what their purpose was and how many flights they were present on? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[bdewoody]

Try this link<br /><br />http://www.cybermodeler.com/space/x-15/x-15.shtml <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[jimfromnsf]

It was to test structural cooling at hypersonic speeds

 

[vogon13]

Hard to remember from so long ago, but I seem to recall the X-15 having a reaction control system for when it was too high for the aerodynamic surfaces to control the orientation of the vehicle because the air was too thin.<br /><br />Might have been peroxide jets on the nose, wingtips, and tail . . . <br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[Aetius]

I remember seeing closeup images of the X-15 on TV a number of times. It definitely had attitude control thrusters for high altitude flight.

 

[bdewoody]

The pods on the wingtips are not part of the reaction control system. They must have only flown on the last few flights when they were really trying to see how fast it would go. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[jimfromnsf]

"An X-15 with pods fastened to its wingtips for the collection of micrometeorite<br />particles at high altitude is seen here attached to a B-52 drop plane just prior<br />to takeoff on one of its most recent research missions. "<br /><br />http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-60/ch-9.html

 

[bdewoody]

thanks guys, for the responses. Now I just have to decide whether I want to add the pods to the wingtips of my model. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">Bob DeWoody</font></em> </div>

 

[jimfromnsf]

Wrong hypersonic research program<br /><br />The YF-12A (60-6935) carries the "coldwall" heat transfer pod on a pylon beneath the forward fuselage.<br /><br />http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/photo/YF-12/HTML/ECN-4767.html