This presentation and companion text describe the history of the development of Reaction Control Systems

Gelzer, Christian

Peebles, Curtis

NASA Technical Reports Server

Christian Gelzer
Curtis Peebles
NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
www.nasa.gov 
The NACA’s High Speed Flight 
Research Station and the Development 
of Reaction Control Systems
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160000534 2019-08-31T04:49:35+00:00Z
A Goodyear Electronic 
Differential Analyzer, 
circa 1956, similar to the 
one the Air Force 
acquired at Edwards 
AFB.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The Bell X-2 and the 
support equipment and 
personnel necessary for a 
flight.
The Air Force bought the 
GEDA to model the X-2’s 
flight in a simulator.
The Bell X-1B. The HSFS engineers created their RCS simulation based on 
this second generation X-1 rocket plane.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
He 72 Kadett
An illustration from the first report on RCS 
testing showing the very basic simulator the 
pilots were asked to fly.
Photograph of the control 
stick the pilots used in the 
simulation.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Stan Butchart, in 1956, piloting the Iron Cross in hangar 4801 (Loads 
Calibration Hangar), while engineers, a few pilots, and technicians look on.  

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Your Title Here 9
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The final version of the Iron Cross, now fully enclosed to 
prevent the pilot from using visual cues while flying.
The Bell X-1B modified with its RCS. Barely visible are the exhaust nozzles at 
the left wing tip, the fuselage aft of the Air Force marking, and just above the 
rocket exhaust. Not visible is the nozzle under the fuselage.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Your Title Here 13
The RCS 
controller in the 
X-1B sticking 
out from the left 
side of the 
instrument panel.
The other wingtip nozzle fires up …
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Your Title Here 15
Uncovered, you can see the two nozzles for roll control, one pointing up, 
the other pointing down.
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The Station’s YF-104 that, in 1958, became the second RCS testbed.
Now the JF-104, slightly shrouded in steam from decomposed H2O2. Note the 
added wingtip pod and the exhaust nozzle in the nose.
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The beneficiaries of all this: 
the X-15s at the Flight 
Research Center, (1964).
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The LLRV in the fall of 1964 squirting steam from its thrusters. 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Your Title Here 21


The NACA's High Speed Flight Research Station and the Development of Reaction Control Systems

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