Three F-104N Starfighters were specially built for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to support research at the NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, California. The aircraft were basically the F-104G with the weapons system removed, additional fuel tanks installed in the gun and ammunition bays, and the MH-97 autopilot and LN-3 navigational system installed.

The third F-104N (Lockheed build number 4058) arrived at the Flight Research Center on 22 October 1963 with 4.75 hours on the airframe. It was piloted by Joseph A. Walker, and wore NASA tail number 013. Within a week, four other NASA pilots also flew 013.

On 1 November 1963, Walker flew NASA 013 to YULETIDE Special Operations Area northeast of Groom Lake, Nevada. The flight was in support of the X-15 program. Groom Lake was a contingency landing site for the rocket plane following launches near Delamar, Nevada. NASA 013 frequently served as chase or weather observation aircraft for the X-15.

The aircraft made its 235th flight as NASA 013 on 5 March 1965, again piloted by Walker. On its next sortie, flown by Milton O. Thompson on 8 March, the aircraft had been redesignated NASA 813.

On 29 November 1965, Joe Walker flew NASA 813 as chase for the XB-70. Walker had been selected to become NASA's chief XB-70 pilot. He made four additional XB-70 chase flights in November and December 1965, and seven more in March 1966.

During its three-year service life, NASA 013 (later 813) flew a total of 409 NASA sorties and logged 627.7 flight hours. It was flown by nine different NASA pilots including Joseph A. Walker, Milton O. Thompson, Bruce Peterson, John "Jack" McKay, Donald Mallick, William H. Dana, Fred Haise, John Manke, and flight surgeon Dr. James Roman. Walker made 165 of the flights, more than any other pilot. The aircraft was lost in a mid-air collision with the XB-70 on 8 June 1966.