Key Points and Summary - The X-15 was a rocket-powered research aircraft that pushed human flight to the edge of space and deep into the hypersonic regime. -Air-launched from a B-52, three X-15s flew ...

An important part of data collection for the United States space program, the North American X-15 had astonishing performance utilizing the technology of the 1950s and 60s. The North American X-15 was ...

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more. This collection consists of two items ...

Summary and Key Points: Before NASA led U.S. space exploration, there was debate over whether the U.S. Air Force or the newly formed NASA should shuttle astronauts to space and in what type of craft. ...

NASA awarded astronaut wings today to three 1960’s-era test pilots. The pilots were never recognized for going beyond the atmosphere and into space flying the X-15 experimental aircraft. Retired NASA ...

Joe Engle, the last surviving member of the test pilots who skimmed the edge of space on the X-15 rocket plane in the 1960s and who later orbited the Earth on space-shuttle missions, died July 10 at ...