X-15 Flight 62

Flight 62
Mission typeTest flight
OperatorUSAF/NASA
Apogee95.9 kilometers (59.6 mi)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftX-15
ManufacturerNorth American
Crew
Crew size1
MembersRobert Michael White
Start of mission
Launch dateJuly 17, 1962 (1962-07-17Z) UTC
End of mission
Landing dateJuly 17, 1962 (1962-07-18Z) UTC
Landing siteRogers 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 United States Robert Michael White[1]
First spaceflight

References

  1. ^ says, Gary Heger (August 22, 2020). "The First Reusable Spacecraft: The X-15 Flights Above the Karman Line". Drew Ex Machina.
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