The Lockheed X-17 was a three-stage solid-fuel research rocket to test the effects of high mach atmospheric reentry. The first stage of the X-17 carried the rocket to a height of 17 miles (27 km) before burning out. The rocket would then coast on momentum to about 100 miles (160 km) before nosing down for reentry.

To fulfill the need for a dedicated research vehicle, Lockheed received a contract for the design and construction of the X-17 missile in January 1955. The X-17 was a multistage vehicle using available and proven rocket motors and a relatively simple control system.

X-planes 8, 9, 11, 12, and 17 were actually missiles [8] used to test new types of engines, and some other vehicles were unoccupied or UAVs (some were remotely flown, some were partially or fully autonomous).

The Northrop YF-17 (nicknamed "Cobra") is a prototype lightweight fighter aircraft designed by Northrop aviation for the United States Air Force 's Lightweight Fighter (LWF) technology evaluation program.

2016年9月5日 · USAF X-17 flight test program at Cape Canaveral studied reentry problems by simulating reentry velocities and conditions with a three-stage solid-fuel Lockheed X-17. A total of 26 X-17 flights were conducted until March 1957. Status: Retired 1958. First Launch: 1955-08-26. Last Launch: 1958-09-06. Number: 39 . Thrust: 220.00 kN (49,450 lbf).

2011年7月7日 · The US Air Force / Lockheed X-17 was a three-stage solid-fuel rocket used to test re-entry payloads on missiles. Among the numerous technologies it tested were ablative materials for re-entry...

The Lockheed X-17 was a three-stage solid-fuel research rocket to test the effects of high mach atmospheric reentry. The first stage of the X-17 carried the rocket to a height of 17 miles (27 km) before burning out. The rocket would then coast on momentum to about 100 miles (160 km) before nosing down for reentry.

Although relatively short-lived, the X-17 research rocket played a vital role in U.S. ballistic missile and nuclear weapons development. The X-17 program was born in 1954 as military officials realized that no hard data was available on how missile nose cones would react during high-speed re-entry through Earth’s atmosphere.

This 1958 documentary describes the X-17 X-plane program of the 1950's which tested high mach speed atmospheric re-entry technology. ...more. As a work of the US federal government it is in the...

The Lockheed X-17 was a three stage solid-fuel research rocket to test the effects of high mach atmospheric reentry. The first stage of the X-17 carried the rocket to a height of 17 miles (27 km) before burning out. The rocket would then coast on momentum to about 100 miles (160 km) before nosing down for reentry.