Lockheed/NASA High-Altitude Atmospheric Research Platform (HAARP)

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From late Curtis Peebles collection at SDASM Flickr collection

 

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Those pictures originally came from the collection of the late R. Dale Reed at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.

In 1990, the Lockheed Skunk Works attempted to interest NASA in an optionally manned High-Altitude Atmospheric Research Platform (HAARP) to support upper atmospheric ozone studies to altitudes of at least 100,000 feet. Despite seriously considering a variety of configurations, NASA ultimately elected not to fund HAARP and the project faded into obscurity.

 

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Some extra configurations studied by Skunk Works for NASA contract
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19900004904

 

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Some extra configurations studied by Skunk Works for NASA contract
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19900004904

That paper also has some interesting stuff about the propulsion concepts, including 3-stage turbocharging for 100k'

The final Lockheed HAARP looked a lot like a U-2 with pusher prop pods in the wings. This book shows a rough 3-view:
Nicolai, L. M., & Carichner, G. E. (2010). "Fundamentals of Aircraft and Airship Design"