The North American X-15 is a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft formerly operated by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the X-plane …

Feb 28, 2014 · It spanned nearly a decade, setting the world’s unofficial speed and altitude records — 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7) and 354,200 feet, respectively. This program investigated all aspects of …

First flown in 1959, the North American X-15 bridged the gap between human flight in the atmosphere and spaceflight. It was the first winged aircraft to fly Mach 4, 5, & 6 and to operate at altitudes above …

Mar 31, 2026 · Flights of the experimental X-15 in the 1960s set unofficial altitude and speed records for piloted aircraft and contributed to the development of the U.S. crewed spaceflight program.

Dec 7, 2025 · An important part of data collection for the United States space program, the North American X-15 had astonishing performance utilizing the technology of the 1950s and 60s. The …

Its purpose was to fly high and fast, testing the machine and subjecting pilots to conditions that future astronauts would face. It made the first manned flights to the edges of space and was the world’s …

The North American X-15 was a rocket-powered aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the X-plane series of experimental …

Apr 22, 2025 · Between 1959 and 1968, the X-15 not only shattered speed and altitude records but also laid the groundwork for the technologies used in the Space Shuttle, Saturn V, and modern …

In 1954 NASA completed these studies and produced a proposal to the Air Force and Navy, for a hypersonic research airplane, the X-15. This Report describes the design and operation of this airplane.

1 day ago · Learn more about Rising to the challenge with the 2027 X15 from Cummins, Inc., an industry leader in reliable power solutions for more than 100 years.