[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          ON THE RETIREMENT OF THE NASA B-52B LAUNCH AIRCRAFT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. WILLIAM M. THOMAS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2004

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the retirement of the 
B-52B launch aircraft, tail number 008, the oldest NASA aircraft and B-
52 on flying status. This aircraft is flown by the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration's (NASA) Dryden Flight Research Center at 
Edwards Air Force Base, California, which is in my district. I am 
especially proud of those who have worked over the years with the B-
52B, making history and providing vital research data for our nation's 
aerospace programs.
  The B-52B is an important piece of our nation's aerospace history, 
and I am pleased to note that it will remain on display on Edwards Air 
Force Base for future generations to visit. Visitors will be able to 
trace the aircraft's history through mission markings along the side of 
the aircraft that document every research flight it made.
  Beginning on June 11, 1955, this aircraft worked on some of the most 
significant projects in our nation's aerospace history, including the 
X-15 hypersonic plane, which contributed to the developments of the 
Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle programs. Between 1959 and 
1068, the B-52B was the launch aircraft for many of the missions of the 
X-15, or wingless lifting body aircraft, that contributed to the space 
shuttle's development. Additionally, through this program, these 
missions explored areas of high aerodynamic heating rates, stability 
and control, human physiological phenomena, and other problems commonly 
experienced with hypersonic flights.
  Several remotely piloted aircraft used the B-52B for launching in the 
1970s and 1980s. During this time, NASA studied spin-stall, high angle 
of attack, and maneuvering characteristics. In addition, this was the 
launch aircraft to develop and test the parachute recovery system for 
the space shuttle's solid rocket boosters. The aircraft was also used 
in several tests for the shuttle's drag chute deployment system, which 
was later installed on the shuttle orbiters.
  Most recently, the B-52B was the launch aircraft for the X-43A 
hypersonic research program. In March of this year, the X-43A flew 
freely at a speed of Mach 7, carried by the same pylon that carried the 
X-15. The final flight of the X-43A on November 16 flew a record-
breaking speed of approximately Mach 10, almost 10 times the speed of 
sound, at an altitude of approximately 110,000 feet. The X-43A missions 
provided research in the area of ultra high-speed flights, such as 
increasing the affordability, safety and flexibility of such flights.
  I commend the many men and women who have worked on the B-52B 008 and 
its research missions, and I thank them for pushing the envelope in 
aerospace research.

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