X-15 Flight 91
Encyclopedia
X-15 Flight 91 was a 1963 American human spaceflight
mission, and the second and final flight in the program to achieve sub-orbital spaceflight
: a flight over 100km in altitude. It was the first flight of a reused spacecraft, as plane number three flew the previous sub-orbital flight on July 19. This mission was piloted by Joseph A. Walker
on August 22, 1963, with the air-launch occurring from a modified Boeing B-52 Stratofortress support plane over Smith Ranch Dry Lake, Nevada
, United States. Walker piloted the X-15 to an altitude of 107.96km and remained weightless for approximately five-minutes. The altitude was the highest sub-orbital flight by a spaceplane
to that time, and remained the record altitude until the 2004 flight of SpaceShipOne. Walker landed the X-15 about 12 minutes after it was launched, at Rogers Dry Lake
, Edwards Airforce Base, in California. The successful flight marked the X-15 as the world's first reusable spacecraft, and it also turned out to be Walker's final flight in one.
The mission was flown by X-15 #3, serial 56-6672 on its 22nd flight.
Launched by: NB-52A #003, Pilots Bement & Lewis. Takeoff: 17:09 UTC. Landing: 18:56 UTC.
Chase pilots: Wood, Dana, Gordon and Rogers.
The X-15 engine burns about 85 seconds. Near the end of the burn, acceleration builds up to about 4 G (39 m/s²). Weightlessness lasts for 3 to 5 minutes. Re-entry heating warms the exterior of the X-15 to 650°C in places. During pull-up after re-entry acceleration builds up to 5 G (49 m/s²) for 20 seconds. The entire flight is about 12 minutes from launch to landing.
Human spaceflight
Human spaceflight is spaceflight with humans on the spacecraft. When a spacecraft is manned, it can be piloted directly, as opposed to machine or robotic space probes and remotely-controlled satellites....
mission, and the second and final flight in the program to achieve sub-orbital spaceflight
Sub-orbital spaceflight
A sub-orbital space flight is a spaceflight in which the spacecraft reaches space, but its trajectory intersects the atmosphere or surface of the gravitating body from which it was launched, so that it does not complete one orbital revolution....
: a flight over 100km in altitude. It was the first flight of a reused spacecraft, as plane number three flew the previous sub-orbital flight on July 19. This mission was piloted by Joseph A. Walker
Joseph A. Walker
Joseph Albert "Joe" Walker was an American NASA test pilot, and member of the U.S. Air Force Man In Space Soonest program. In 1963, he made two X-15 Experimental rocket aircraft flights beyond the altitude of 100 kilometers - at the edge of outer space...
on August 22, 1963, with the air-launch occurring from a modified Boeing B-52 Stratofortress support plane over Smith Ranch Dry Lake, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, United States. Walker piloted the X-15 to an altitude of 107.96km and remained weightless for approximately five-minutes. The altitude was the highest sub-orbital flight by a spaceplane
Spaceplane
A spaceplane is a vehicle that operates as an aircraft in Earth's atmosphere, as well as a spacecraft when it is in space. It combines features of an aircraft and a spacecraft, which can be thought of as an aircraft that can endure and maneuver in the vacuum of space or likewise a spacecraft that...
to that time, and remained the record altitude until the 2004 flight of SpaceShipOne. Walker landed the X-15 about 12 minutes after it was launched, at Rogers Dry Lake
Rogers Dry Lake
Rogers Dry Lake is an endorheic desert salt pan in the Mojave Desert of Kern County, California. The lake derives its name from the Anglicization from the Spanish name, Rodriguez Dry Lake. It is the central part of Edwards Air Force Base as its hard surface provides a natural extension to the...
, Edwards Airforce Base, in California. The successful flight marked the X-15 as the world's first reusable spacecraft, and it also turned out to be Walker's final flight in one.
Mission parameters
- Mass: 15,195 kg fueled; 6,577 kg burnout; 6,260 kg landed
- Maximum Altitude: 107.96 km
- Range: 543.4 km
- Burn time: 85.8 seconds
- Mach: 5.58
- Launch vehicle: NB-52A Bomber #003
Mission highlights
Unofficial world altitude record from 1963 to 2004. On this flight, Joe Walker became the first person to enter space twice. Maximum Speed - 6106 km/h. Maximum Altitude - 107,960 m. Second and final X-15 flight over 100 km. Unofficial altitude record set for class. Highest altitude achieved by X-15. Last flight for Walker in X-15 program. Number 1 left RCS nozzle froze up. First flight with altitude predictor instrument (needed calibration).The mission was flown by X-15 #3, serial 56-6672 on its 22nd flight.
Launched by: NB-52A #003, Pilots Bement & Lewis. Takeoff: 17:09 UTC. Landing: 18:56 UTC.
Chase pilots: Wood, Dana, Gordon and Rogers.
The X-15 engine burns about 85 seconds. Near the end of the burn, acceleration builds up to about 4 G (39 m/s²). Weightlessness lasts for 3 to 5 minutes. Re-entry heating warms the exterior of the X-15 to 650°C in places. During pull-up after re-entry acceleration builds up to 5 G (49 m/s²) for 20 seconds. The entire flight is about 12 minutes from launch to landing.
| 1st 100 km Flight: X-15 Flight 90 X-15 Flight 90 -Crew:-Mission parameters:*Mass: 15,195 kg fueled; 6,577 kg burnout; 6,260 kg landed*Maximum Altitude: 106.01 km*Range: 534 km*Burn Time: 84.6 seconds*Mach: 5.50*Launch Vehicle: NB-52B Bomber #008... |
X-15 Program | 2nd 100 km Flight: X-15 Flight 91 |