1963: NASA's 'Flying Bathtub' Proves Wingless Lifting Bodies Can Land Safely
On August 16, 1963, NASA successfully tested the M2-F1, a wingless lifting-body prototype, by towing it to 5,200 feet and releasing it for a controlled glide and landing in California. This milestone validated an alternative to ballistic reentry for returning crewed spacecraft to Earth, paving the way for future lifting-body research and test vehicles.