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Tier 3 DarkStar on Ramp Main Content
NASA Center: Dryden Flight Research Center
Image # : EC95-43271-5
Date : 01/01/1995

Title

Tier 3 DarkStar on Ramp

Full Description

The Lockheed Martin/Boeing Tier III- (minus) unpiloted aerial vehicle is inspected by NASA personnel September 14, 1995, following its arrival at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. The Tier III Minus project utilized Dryden ground facilities during the flight test program. The vehicle was developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and Boeing Defense and Space Group to satisfy a goal of the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO) to supply responsive and sustained surveillance and reconnaissance data from anywhere within enemy territory, day or night, in all types of weather. Dubbed DarkStar, it had a wing span of 69 feet and was designed to fly above 45,000 feet at subsonic speeds on missions lasting more than eight hours. The first DarkStar prototype made its first flight on March 29, 1996. At the begininning of its second flight, on April 22, 1996, it crashed on takeoff, and was destroyed. The DarkStar's unusual shape was dictated by the requirement to orbit its target conducting surveillance while still remaining stealthy. Whereas aircraft like the F-117 are designed to be more stealthy from the front, the DarkStar is designed to be more stealthy from the sides.

Keywords

Tier III- Tier III Minus DarkStar Lockheed Martin Boeing Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office DARO Dryden

Subject Category

Unique Aircraft,

Reference Numbers

  • Center: DFRC
  • Center Number: EC95-43271-5
  • GRIN DataBase Number: GPN-2000-000231

Source Information

  • Creator/Photographer: Nasa Tony Landis
  • Original Source: DIGITAL

Image Information ( Copyright Notification )

ResolutionFormatWidth
(Pixels)		Height
(Pixels)		Size
(KBytes)
Thumbnail .jpg 91 71 13
Small .jpg 646 504 299
Medium .jpg 1515 1181 1,717
Large .jpg 3030 2362 6,286

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