Mission type | Test flight |
---|---|
Operator | USAF/NASA |
Apogee | 95.9 kilometers (59.6 mi) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | X-15 |
Manufacturer | North American |
Crew | |
Crew size | 1 |
Members | Robert Michael White |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | July 17, 1962 | UTC
End of mission | |
Landing date | July 17, 1962 | UTC
Landing site | Rogers Dry Lake, Edwards |
Flight 62 of the North American X-15 was a sub-orbital spaceflight conducted by NASA and the US Air Force on 17 July 1962. The X-15 was piloted by astronaut Robert Michael White to an altitude of 95.9 km (59.6 mi) surpassing the U.S. definition of space. Thus it became the first spaceflight of a spaceplane and a reusable spacecraft. The X-15 was also NASA's first space vehicle (the Mercury capsule flew into space first, but the X-15 was airborne before Big Joe 1). The Flight landed at Edwards Air Force Base. With this White was the first test pilot qualifying for his astronaut wings.
Position | Astronaut | |
---|---|---|
Pilot | ![]() First spaceflight |
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