T-38 Talon

Since the 1960s, NASA astronauts have trained for the stresses of spaceflight in the high-altitude, two-seater, supersonic T-38 Talon. Developed by Northrop Grumman, it became the world’s first supersonic jet trainer in 1961 when it entered service for the U.S. Air Force. Its aerobatic capabilities made it ideal for Air Force pilots training to fly fighters and bombers and for NASA astronauts honing their piloting skills and becoming accustomed to the G-forces of liftoff and re-entry. Nicknamed the White Rocket, it requires only 2,300 feet to ascend from sea level to 30,000 feet in one minute. The T-38 delivered to NASA Johnson Space Center in 1965 supported the Gemini and Apollo programs.

Huntsville, Alabama · United States