On June 8, 1959, NASA's rocket-powered X-15 experimental plane made its first glide flight.
The X-15 rocket plane was part of a series of experimental hypersonic aircraft. This flight marked the beginning of almost a decade of research that explored the altitudes and hypersonic speed at the edge of space. At maximum speed, the X-15 would fly at Mach 6.7 ― 4,520 miles per hour! The X-15 program had a total of 12 test pilots, including Neil Armstrong, between 1959 and 1968, making 199 flights in the process. The aircraft flew over a period of almost 10 years. And with a max altitude of 67 miles, it was even able to reach the edge of outer space in the 1960s.
The X-15 rocket plane was part of a series of experimental hypersonic aircraft. This flight marked the beginning of almost a decade of research that explored the altitudes and hypersonic speed at the edge of space. At maximum speed, the X-15 would fly at Mach 6.7 ― 4,520 miles per hour! The X-15 program had a total of 12 test pilots, including Neil Armstrong, between 1959 and 1968, making 199 flights in the process. The aircraft flew over a period of almost 10 years. And with a max altitude of 67 miles, it was even able to reach the edge of outer space in the 1960s.
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TechTranscript
00:00On this day in space.
00:03In 1959, NASA's rocket-powered X-15 experimental plane made its first glide flight.
00:09The X-15 rocket plane was part of a series of experimental hypersonic aircrafts.
00:14This flight marked the beginning of almost a decade of flight research
00:17that explored the altitude and hypersonic speed at the edge of space.
00:21At max speed, the X-15 would fly at Mach 6.7, or 4,520 miles per hour.
00:28The X-15 program had a total of 12 test pilots, including Neil Armstrong,
00:32between 1959 and 1968, and made 199 flights.
00:36And with a max altitude of 67 miles, it was able to reach the edge of space in 1963.
00:42And that's what happened on this day in space.