X-15 Rocket Plane History
North American Aviation's X-15 is one of the world's fastest and highest flying aircraft. After test flights in 1959, in 1967 the X-15 eventually reached Mach 6.72. The X-15 is air launched from a Boeing B-52. This aircraft was used to gather flight data at very high speeds and altitudes. Information collected from X-15 flights aided in the research and design of initial crafts for space flight. Neil Armstrong participated in the piloting and engineering of the X-15 in the early 1960s. Later, Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
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Curator:
Dave Mazza
Responsible Official:
Tom Benson