Lifting Body, M2-F3
name: label: Manufacturer
content: Northrop Norair
notes: label: Physical Description
content: This M2-F3 lifting body was a heavyweight, wingless lifting body research craft of the 1960s. This F3 is the F2 re-built after a landing accident seriously damaged the M2-F2.
label: Summary
content: This M2-F3 lifting body was the first of the heavyweight, wingless lifting body research craft of the 1960s. The lifting body programs tested the concept of achieving aerodynamic lift from just the shape of wingless craft, a concept used in designing the Space Shuttle. This F3 is the F2 re-built after a landing accident seriously damaged the M2-F2. The rocket-powered M2 was launched from beneath a B-52 mother craft at an altitude of 45,000 ft. and would glide to a landing. NASA transferred the M2-F3 to the Museum for display in 1975.
label: Alternate Name
content: M2-F3 Lifting Body
label: Key Accomplishment(s)
content: Wingless Research Craft
label: Brief Description
content: This M2-F3 lifting body was the first of the wingless lifting body research craft of the 1960s. It tested the concept of achieving aerodynamic lift from just the shape of wingless craft, a concept used in the Space Shuttle. This F3 is the F2 rebuilt after a crash in 1967.
place: label: Country of Origin
content: United States of America
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Air and Space Museum Collection
label: Location
content: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA
label: Hangar
content: Boeing Aviation Hangar
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Transferred from NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Air and Space Museum
identifier: label: Inventory Number
content: A19751576000
objectType: label: Type
content: SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Test Vehicles
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Materials
content: Aluminum, glass or plastic, various materials inside.
label: Dimensions
content: Overall: 8ft x 22ft x 9ft, 6000lb. (243.84 x 670.56 x 274.32cm, 2721.6kg)