NASA B-52B Carries Pegasus Booster, X-43A Aircraft

From left, pilot Craig Bomben, photographer Carla Thomas, pilot Frank Batteas, and videographer Lori Losey make up the flight crews for two F-18 high-performance jets to document a flight of NASA’s B-52B carrying a Pegasus booster rocket and the X-43A. A dry run, known as a captive carry mission, was conducted to monitor the research hardware in flight for any challenges. The January 2004 X-43A flight was based at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.

From left, pilot Craig Bomben, photographer Carla Thomas, pilot Frank Batteas, and videographer Lori Losey make up the flight crews for two F-18 high-performance jets to document a flight of NASA’s B-52B carrying a Pegasus booster rocket and the X-43A. A dry run, known as a captive carry mission, was conducted to monitor the research hardware in flight for any challenges. The January 2004 X-43A flight was based at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California.

Photographer NASA/Tom Tschida
Location AFRC
NASA s Armstrong Flight Research CenterAFRCX-43APegasus boosterB-52B mothershipEdwards Air Force BaseCalifornia