A photo of model airplane builders James B. Newman and Robert L. McDonald preparing for a flight with models of the M2-F2 and a “Mothership”. In 1968 a test flight was made on the Rosamond dry lakebed, Rosamond, California. The original idea of lifting bodies was conceived about 1957 by Dr. Alfred J. Eggers, Jr., then the assistant director for Research and Development Analysis and Planning at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics' Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Moffett Field, California. Nose cone studies led to the design known as the M-2, a modified half-cone, rounded on the bottom and flat on top, with a blunt, rounded nose and twin tail fins. To gather flight data on this configuration, models were found to be an effective method. A special twin-engined, 14-foot model “mothership” was used for carrying the M2-F2 model to altitude and a launch, much as was being done with the B-52 for the full-scale lifting bodies. Jim (on the left) will fly the “mothership” and Bob will take control of the M2-F2 at launch and fly it to a landing on the lakebed.
Jim Newman and Bob McDonald attach an M2-F2 lifting body model to the "Mothership"
Date: 12-06-13 Location: Bldg 5, SSTF Subject: Expedition 40 crew members Steve Swanson, Greg Wiseman and Alexander Gerst during EPS MAJOR CASE B training in SSTF with instructor Jessica Newman Photographer: James Blair
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Date: 12-06-13 Location: Bldg 5, SSTF Subject: Expedition 40 crew members Steve Swanson, Greg Wiseman and Alexander Gerst during EPS MAJOR CASE B training in SSTF with instructor Jessica Newman Photographer: James Blair
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Date: 12-06-13 Location: Bldg 5, SSTF Subject: Expedition 40 crew members Steve Swanson, Greg Wiseman and Alexander Gerst during EPS MAJOR CASE B training in SSTF with instructor Jessica Newman Photographer: James Blair
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Date: 12-06-13 Location: Bldg 5, SSTF Subject: Expedition 40 crew members Steve Swanson, Greg Wiseman and Alexander Gerst during EPS MAJOR CASE B training in SSTF with instructor Jessica Newman Photographer: James Blair
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STS051-07-031 (12-22 Sept 1993) --- Astronauts Carl E. Walz, left, and James H. Newman are pictured on Discovery's aft flight deck near two experiments. Positioned in the window above Walz's head is the Auroral Photography Experiment (APE-B), while the High Resolution Shuttle Glow Spectroscopy (HRSGS-A) experiment is deployed in the other window.
Astronauts Walz and Newman in STS-51 Discovery's aft flight deck