As crew members secure the X-15 rocket-powered aircraft after a research flight, the B-52 mothership used for launching this unique aircraft does a low fly-by overhead. The X-15s made a total of 199 flights over a period of nearly 10 years -- 1959 to 1968 -- and set unofficial world speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach ) and 354,200. Information gained from the highly successful X-15 program contributed to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo piloted spaceflight programs, and also the Space Shuttle program.

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As crew members secure the X-15 rocket-powered aircraft after a research flight, the B-52 mothership used for launching this unique aircraft does a low fly-by overhead. The X-15s made a total of 199 flights over a period of nearly 10 years -- 1959 to 1968 -- and set unofficial world speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach ) and 354,200. Information gained from the highly successful X-15 program contributed to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo piloted spaceflight programs, and also the Space Shuttle program. This archival print is available in the following sizes: 8" x 10" $ w/ FREE SHIPPING 11" x 14" $ w/ FREE SHIPPING 16" x 20" $ w/ FREE SHIPPING 20" x 24" $ w/ FREE SHIPPING * The American Photoarchive watermark will not appear on your print.

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Size: 3030px × 2606px
Location: NASA
Photo credit: © American Photo Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: &, -52, -15, america, angle, attack, body, boeing, bryant, danger, dast, hero, heroic, high, himat, launch, lifting, manned, pegasus, pratt, roy, scientific, shuttle, space, spaceflight, srv, turbojet, whitney