030128-N-1810F-006 At sea aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) Jan. 28, 2003 -- An EA-6B “Prowler”
launches off the ship’s bow from one of four steam driven catapults. Before jet aircraft came into service
in the 1950’s, catapults were hydraulically powered. The steam catapult was invented in 1952 by Britain's
Royal Navy to improve the launch of the era's new jet airplanes from carriers. Steam catapults draw their
power directly from the heat of the ship's engines. Since aircraft carrier engines are large, they have an
enormous amount of power. The steam catapult uses this power to fling airplanes weighing as much as
71,000 lbs. into the air using only 300 ft. of flight deck space. Kitty Hawk is the Navy’s only permanently
forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan.
U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Todd Frantom. (RELEASED)