Captive carry

Encyclopedia : C : CA : CAP : Captive carry

SpaceShipOne is carried beneath White Knight during a captive carry flight to test SpaceShipOne's aerodynamic and avionic performance. The two-vehicle system can both take off and land in this configuration.

Captive carry refers to a flight by a mothership (carrier aircraft) and spaceplane, rocket, or missile paired together in a parasite aircraft configuration. The two are not separated in flight, as would occur during an air launch. Captive carry flights are normally used to test out new aircraft before they are launched under their own power, as well as for transportation, as in the case of NASA ferrying operations for the Space Shuttle, involving Boeing 747-100 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

Atlantis transported by a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

Russian Shuttle Buran transported by an An-225 carrier

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