X-15 Program

The X-15 Program predated our efforts with the Mercury Program and although most people don't know it, marked the real beginning of American manned space exploration and technology. Although fully acknowledged by aerospace historians, the accomplishments of the X-15 and its brave pilots were largely ignored by the public once the highly publicized Mercury Program caught everyone's attention. It did, however, establish altitude records of 67 miles and a speed record approaching Mach 7 (6.7) with supplementary fuel tanks under its wings. By today's modern definition of “space” the X-15 did reach and exceed the threshold of space.

It operated out of Edwards Air Force Base using their famous dry lake for landings where the Space Shuttle now lands routinely. It produced many innovative developments and required the creation and application of new materials to handle skin temperatures approaching 1300 degrees Fahrenheit along its leading edges. It was dropped from a special pod off the wing of a B-52, allowed to descend some distance and then the rocket engine was fired and brought up to full power.

Many of the concepts used in the Mercury Program were learned from the X-15. The X-15 was, however, fully piloted by its occupant, not just for attitude adjustments or the firing of an engine. If it took a “seat of the pants” approach to get back home, the pilot had to make it happen.