Word: 5d
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...altitude of 100 miles and a speed of 18,000 m.p.h. off the West Coast of the U.S. last week, an Atlas rocket opened its clamshell nose cone and ejected a 7-ft. object that resembled a flatiron-shaped speedboat. The strange craft was the Air Force SV-5D, an experimental forerunner of a larger, manned "lifting body" that scientists believe will be equally at home in space and in the atmosphere...
Demonstrating its versatility in last week's test, the SV-5D fired nitrogen jets in response to commands radioed from the ground, changing its attitude as it soared through space over the Pacific. Then, as it followed its trajectory back into the atmosphere, the craft moved its control flaps, turned, and detoured 500 miles before returning to its original course and splashing down in the ocean near Kwajalein Island. Though the SV-5D sank, and was lost when heavy seas ripped away its flotation gear, its otherwise successful flight brought closer the day when man can first steer...