Martin X-23 PRIME

Overview

The Martin X-23A PRIME (Precision Reentry Including Maneuvering reEntry) (SV-5D) is a small lifting-body re-entry vehicle tested by the United States Air Force in the mid-1960s. Unlike ASSET, primarily used for structural and heating research, the X-23A PRIME was developed to study the effects of maneuvering during re-entry of Earth's atmosphere, including cross-range maneuvers up to 617 nmi (710 mi; 1,143 km) from the ballistic track.