On this day in space! Aug. 16, 1963: Wingless M2-F1 completes 1st glide flight

NASA’s M2-F1 aircraft prototype successfully completed its inaugural glide flight on August 16, 1963. The unmanned test occurred at Edwards Air Force Base in California. This experimental vehicle was designed to assess aerodynamic characteristics for future winged spacecraft designs. Engineers meticulously monitored the M2-F1’s performance during the approximately 45-second glide. Following the successful flight, data collected will be crucial for advancing NASA’s research into reusable space vehicles.