X-15 aircraft's launch contrail (right), shining in the light from the Sun (left). Contrails are artificial clouds created from frozen water droplets

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X-15 aircraft's launch contrail (right), shining in the light from the Sun (left). Contrails are artificial clouds created from frozen water droplets that form from the exhaust of the engines of an aircraft. The X-15 was a rocket-powered research aircraft designed to investigate flight at hypersonic speeds. Three X-15s flew a total of 199 missions between 1959 and 1968. The X-15 was carried into the air by a converted B-52 bomber and released at high altitude. The pilot then ignited the X-15's rocket motor. It was the first plane to reach the edge of outer space and set records for the fastest manned aircraft (7,274 kilometres per hour, or Mach ).

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Size: 2668px × 3291px
Photo credit: © NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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