(Click to order) [edit] X-15: To the Edge of Space [edit] Double-size Wall Calendar This is a huge wall calendar, all new for 2008. Click on the thumbnail at right for a larger preview of the entire calendar. For each of the months below, you can click on the large thumbnail to see a quarter-size preview of the actual calendar page, or the small thumbnail to see the original image. Order from Cafe Press

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An unofficial motto of flight research in the 1940s and 1950s was "higher and faster." By the late 1950s the last frontier of that goal was hypersonic flight (Mach 5+) to the edge of space. It would require a huge leap in aeronautical technology, life support systems and flight planning. The North American X-15 rocket plane was built to meet that challenge. It was designed to fly at speeds up to Mach 6, and altitudes up to 250,000 ft. The aircraft went on to reach a maximum speed of Mach 6.7 and a maximum altitude of 354,200 ft. Looking at it another way, Mach 6 is about one mile per second, and flight above 264,000 ft. qualifies an Air Force pilot for astronaut wings.

[edit] Cover: X-15 #3 in flight

E-USAF-X-15 Credit: USAF

X-15 ship #3 (56-6672) in flight over the desert in the 1960s. Ship #3 made 65 flights during the program, attaining a top speed of Mach 5.65 and a maximum altitude of 354,200 feet. Only 10 of the 12 X-15 pilots flew Ship #3, and only eight of them earned their astronaut wings during the program. Robert White, Joseph Walker, Robert Rushworth, John "Jack" McKay, Joseph Engle, William "Pete" Knight, William Dana, and Michael Adams all earned their astronaut wings in Ship #3. Neil Armstrong and Milton Thompson also flew Ship #3. In fact, Armstrong piloted Ship #3 on its first flight, on 20 December 1961.

[edit] January: X-15A-2 with full scale ablative and external tanks

EC67-1794 Credit: NASA, August 4, 1967

In June 1967, the X-15A-2 rocket-powered research aircraft received a full-scale ablative coating to protect the craft from the high temperatures associated with hypersonic flight (above Mach 5). This pink eraser-like substance, applied to the X-15A-2 aircraft (56-6671), was then covered with a white sealant coat before flight. This coating would help the #2 aircraft reach the record speed of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7).

[edit] February: X-15 and Lifting Body aircraft in hangar 4802

EC66-1461 Credit: NASA

This view of hangar 4802 at the NASA Flight Research Center was taken on August 10, 1966. Aircraft on the left include (left to right): HL-10, M2-F2, M2-F1, F-4A, F5D-1, F-104 (barely visible) and C-47. Aircraft on the right side (left to right) include: X-15-1 (56-6670), X-15-3 (56-6672), and X-15-2 (56-6671). Hangar 4802 had been the main hangar at the Flight Research Center (FRC--now the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA) and before that, the High-Speed Flight Station, since 1954. During 1966, the two main flight research projects at the FRC were the lifting bodies (including the M2-F1, M2-F2, and HL-10) and the X-15.

[edit] March: X-15 #3 in flight

E-USAF-X-15 Credit: USAF

X-15 ship #3 (56-6672) in flight over the desert in the 1960s. Ship #3 made 65 flights during the program, attaining a top speed of Mach 5.65 and a maximum altitude of 354,200 feet. Only 10 of the 12 X-15 pilots flew Ship #3, and only eight of them earned their astronaut wings during the program. Robert White, Joseph Walker, Robert Rushworth, John "Jack" McKay, Joseph Engle, William "Pete" Knight, William Dana, and Michael Adams all earned their astronaut wings in Ship #3. Neil Armstrong and Milton Thompson also flew Ship #3. In fact, Armstrong piloted Ship #3 on its first flight, on 20 December 1961.

[edit] April: X-15 #2 on lakebed after emergency landing

E-9149 Credit: NASA

On 9 November 1962, an engine failure forced Jack McKay, a NASA research pilot, to make an emergency landing at Mud Lake, Nevada, in the second X-15 (56-6671); its landing gear collapsed and the X-15 flipped over on its back. McKay was promptly rescued by an Air Force medical team standing by near the launch site, and eventually recovered to fly the X-15 again. But his injuries, more serious than at first thought, eventually forced his retirement from NASA. The aircraft was sent back to the manufacturer, where it underwent extensive repairs and modifications. It returned to Edwards in February 1964 as the X-15A-2, with a longer fuselage (52 ft 5 in) and external fuel tanks.

[edit] May: X-15A-2 launch with ablative coating and external tanks

EC68-1889 Credit: NASA, 1967

After receiving a full scale ablative coating to protect the craft from the high temperatures associated with high-Mach supersonic flight, the X-15A-2 (56-6671) rocket powered research aircraft was then covered with a white sealant coat and mounted with additional external fuel tanks. This ablative coating and sealant would help the #2 aircraft reach the record speed of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7). Under the lower fin is a dummy ramjet engine. It was intended to use the X-15A-2 for tests of an actual engine but this never happened.

[edit] June: Preflight preparation

E8813-34 Credit: NASA, intepreted by Eric Hartwell

X-15 and its B-52 carrier aircraft during preflight preparation, early , 1960's. Preparation to fly the complicated X-15 mission can take nearly 200 hours, including simulations, ground checks and in flight systems checks.

[edit] July: X-15 #2 just after launch

EC88-0180-1 Credit: NASA, early 1960s

The X-15 #2 (56-6671) launches away from the B-52 mothership with its rocket engine ignited. The white patches near the middle of the ship are frost from the liquid oxygen used in the propulsion system, although very cold liquid nitrogen was also used to cool the payload bay, cockpit, windshields, and nose.

[edit] August: X-15 contrail after launch

EC65-884 Credit: NASA, probably 1962

The X-15 rocket-powered aircraft begins its climb after launch at the NASA Flight Research Center, Edwards, California.

[edit] September: X-15 on lakebed after landing with B-52 mothership flyover

EC61-0034 Credit: NASA

As crew members secure the X-15 rocket-powered aircraft after a research flight in September 1961, the B-52 mothership used for launching this unique aircraft does a low fly-by overhead. NASA B-52, Tail Number 008, served as the launch vehicle on 106 X-15 flights and flew a total of 159 captive-carry and launch missions in support of that program from June 1959 to October 1968. A wing pylon installed on the right wing, between the inboard engine pylon and the fuselage, enables the B-52 to carry research vehicles and test articles to be air-launched/dropped. A large notch was cut in the right inboard wing flap to accommodate the vertical tail of the X-15 aircraft.

[edit] October: X-15 #2 landing accident at Mud Lake

E62-9170 Credit: NASA

NASA research pilot Jack McKay was injured in a crash landing of the X-15 #2 on November 9, 1962. Following the launch from the B-52 to begin flight 2-31-52, he started the X-15’s rocket engine, only to discover that it produced just 30 percent of its maximum thrust. He had to make a high-speed emergency landing on Mud Lake, Nevada, without flaps but with a significant amount of fuel still in the aircraft. As the X-15 slid across the lakebed, the left skid collapsed; the aircraft turned sideways and flipped onto its back. McKay suffered back injuries but was eventually able to resume X-15 pilot duties, making 22 more flights. The X-15 was sent back to North American Aviation and rebuilt into the X-15A-2.

[edit] November: X-15 mounted to B-52 mothership pylon in flight

EC65-885 Credit: NASA, probably 1962

This photo illustrates how the X-15 rocket powered aircraft was taken aloft under the wing of a B-52. Because of the large fuel consumption, the X-15 was air launched from a B-52 aircraft at 45,000 ft and a speed of about 500 mph. This photo was taken from one of the observation windows in the B-52 shortly before dropping the X-15.

[edit] December: X-15 test pilots - in a lighter mood

E-14182 Credit: NASA

The X-15 pilots clown around in front of the #2 aircraft in 1966. From left to right: USAF Capt. Joseph Engle, USAF Maj. Robert Rushworth, NASA test pilot John "Jack" McKay, USAF Maj. William "Pete" Knight, NASA test pilot Milton Thompson, and NASA test pilot William Dana.

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