Sky-High Speeds: The X-15 Breaks Records with Blistering Mach 6.7 Flight
Fueling Ambition: The Powerful XLR99 Engine Propels X-15 to Astounding Heights
According to The National Interest the X-15 was really fast and flew really high showing that people could go into space without just using rockets. It had a super powerful engine called the Reaction Motors XLR99 which needed a lot of fuel but let the X-15 reach crazy speeds like Mach 6.7 in 1967 and heights up to 67 miles above Earth in.
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(PHOTO:National Air and Space Museum)The Forgotten Pioneer: X-15’s Groundbreaking Space Flights and the Road to Aerospace Innovation
Legacy of Ambition: The X-15’s Impact on Space Exploration and Aerospace Engineering
Even though the Air Force thought the X-15 was the best for space exploration because it was like a plane and not just a capsule NASA decided to use the Mercury capsule instead. This choice meant that the X-15 didn’t get to play a big role in space travel even though it had done some amazing things. There were talks about sending an X-15 to space with a missile but NASA went with capsules leading to things like the Space Shuttle later on. Although the X-15 isn’t as famous as it once was it still shows how smart and daring people can be when it comes to exploring space. Its record-breaking flights opened the door for new ideas in aerospace engineering. Even though NASA went with capsules the X-15’s legacy lives on, reminding us of the exciting possibilities and big dreams that drove the early days of space exploration.
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