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X-15 Astroflights
Project SummaryFrom June 1959 to October 1968, the three X-15 rocket-powered aircraft made a total of 199 flights that contributed to the design and development of what would eventually become the space shuttle. The X-15 was carried aloft under the wing of a B-52 and then dropped for its powered flight and landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The X-15 flew to speeds of up to 4,560 mph (Mach 6.7). Additionally, during the 13 flights listed below, the pilots earned their "Astronaut Wings" by flying the X-15 to altitudes of over 60 miles, which is considered to be the outer edge of the Earth's atmosphere. Therefore, during these 13 flights, the X-15 took man to the edge of space in controlled, winged flight. Each of the X-15's astroflights lasted about 10 minutes. The total flight time for the 199 X-15 flights was 10h 13m 49s. One X-15 pilot, Michael Adams, was killed in the crash of X-15 No. 3 on November 15, 1967.
Astroflight Missions Flown
# of Flt.
Date Spacecraft Name Crew Days X-15 Astropilot
-------- ----------------------- ---- ---- ------------------------
06/08/59 ---------------------------------- 1st X-15 flight
07/17/62 X-15 #3 Flight 62 1 -1 Robert M. White
01/17/63 X-15 #3 Flight 77 1 -1 Joseph A. Walker
06/27/63 X-15 #3 Flight 87 1 -1 Robert A. Rushworth
07/19/63 X-15 #3 Flight 90 1 -1 Joseph A. Walker
08/22/63 X-15 #3 Flight 91 1 -1 Joseph A. Walkert
06/29/65 X-15 #3 Flight 138 1 -1 Joseph H. Engle
08/10/65 X-15 #3 Flight 143 1 -1 Joseph H. Engle
09/28/65 X-15 #3 Flight 150 1 -1 John B. McKay
10/14/65 X-15 #1 Flight 153 1 -1 Joseph H. Engle
11/01/66 X-15 #3 Flight 174 1 -1 William H. Dana
10/17/67 X-15 #3 Flight 190 1 -1 William Knight
11/15/67 X-15 #3 Flight 191 1 -1 Michael J. Adams
08/21/68 X-15 #1 Flight 197 1 -1 William H. Dana
10/24/68 ---------------------------------- 199th X-15 flight
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