NASA Aerial Photographer Completes 1,000th Flight

The NASA SR-71 triple-supersonic aircraft carries the Linear Aerospike Experiment on Wednesday, March 4, 1998, during a flight from NASA’s Armstrong (then Dryden) Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Gaseous helium and liquid nitrogen cycled through the linear aerospike engine during the flight to check the engine’s plumbing system for leaks and to check the engine operating characteristics. Cold-flow tests must be accomplished successfully before firing the rocket engine experiment in flight.

The NASA SR-71 triple-supersonic aircraft carries the Linear Aerospike Experiment on Wednesday, March 4, 1998, during a flight from NASA’s Armstrong (then Dryden) Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Gaseous helium and liquid nitrogen cycled through the linear aerospike engine during the flight to check the engine’s plumbing system for leaks and to check the engine operating characteristics. Cold-flow tests must be accomplished successfully before firing the rocket engine experiment in flight.

Photographer NASA/Carla Thomas
Location AFRC
NASA s Armstrong Flight Research CenterAFRCCarla Thomasaerial photographerF A-18NASA 747 Shuttle Carrier AircraftEndeavourSR-71Capsule Parachute Assembly SystemSonic Booms in Atmospheric Turbulence programEdwards Air Force BaseCalifornia