Captive carry

Atlantis transported by a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

Captive carry refers to a flight by a mothership (carrier aircraft) and spaceplane, rocket, or missile paired together in a parasite aircraft configuration. The two are not separated in flight, as would occur during an air launch. Captive carry flights are normally used to test out new aircraft before they are launched under their own power, as well as for transportation, as in the case of NASA ferrying operations for the Space Shuttle, involving Boeing 747-100 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

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