At the Edge of Space The X-15 Flight Program

Thompson's adrenaline-fueled account of the X-15 program is the ultimate insider's view: he flew as one of the twelve test pilots. These men truly had the right stuff, essentially piloting a seat strapped to a rocket 300,000 feet into the air, right to the edge of space. It's all here, from late-night uncertainties in desert bars to the monumental technical challenges, to the record-breaking flights themselves. Book jacket.

Milton O. Thompson (1926-1993) was chief engineer at the NASA Ames-Dryden Flight Research Facility in Edwards, California.

Foreword

ix

Acknowledgments

xiii

Introduction: The Men

1

(26)

Flight 3-65-97

27

(6)

PART 1 THE INGREDIENTS

The Machine

33

(16)

The Operation

49

(34)

PART 2 THE PROGRAM

Program Phases

83

(8)

Demonstration Phase (1959--1962)

91

(18)

In the Contrails of Giants (1962--1964)

109

(64)

Trial by Fire and Water (1964--1968)

173

(34)

Results and Unanticipated Problems

207

(20)

PART 3 TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY

Toward Mach 7---The X-15A-2

227

(20)

Sometimes the Bull Wins

247

(18)

The End

265

(14)

Author's Note

279

(2)

Appendix 1 Flight Logs

281

(78)

Appendix 2 Pilot Statistics

359

(6)

Appendix 3 Aircraft Availability

365

(2)

Appendix 4 Typical X-15 Flight Plan

367

(4)

Index

371

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At the Edge of Space The X-15 Flight Program

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials