X-15 home
topic index
Program: X-15. Objective: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Overview: X-15 rocket-powered manned aircraft project set records for altitude and speed, and reached the edge of space.
Major Events:

  • 1954 July 9 - X-15 project begun..  Spacecraft: X-15A. Launch Vehicle: X-15.

    NACA met with USAF and Navy BuAer representatives to propose the X-15 as an extension of the cooperative rocket research aircraft program. The NACA proposal was accepted as a joint effort and a memorandum of understanding was signed on December 23 naming NACA as technical director of the project, with advice from a joint Research Airplane Committee.

  • 1957 April 23 - X-15 first public details announced..  Spacecraft: X-15A. Launch Vehicle: X-15.

    Details of X-15 rocket research airplane were publicly revealed for the first time.

  • 1958 October 15 - X-15 rollout..  Spacecraft: X-15A. Launch Vehicle: X-15.

    First of a series of three X-15 experimental rocket-powered manned research aircraft was rolled out at the Los Angeles plant of North American Aviation, Inc., in the joint USAF-USN-NASA program.

  • 1961 June 19 - X-15 awards..  Spacecraft: X-15A. Launch Vehicle: X-15.

    Harmon International Aviator's Trophy for 1961 announced as going to three winners for the first time-X-15 rocket research airplane pilots: A. Scott Crossfield, of North American; Joseph A. Walker, of NASA, and Maj. Robert A. White, U.S. Air Force.

Contact us with any corrections, additions, or comments.
Conditions for use of drawings, pictures, or other materials from this site..
To contact astronauts or cosmonauts.

© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.