Among the 12 who piloted the X-15s were future Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong (shown here) and Space Shuttle astronaut Joe Engle. Eight pilots flew higher than 80 kilometers (50 miles) above the Earth and were thus awarded astronaut wings.

Created:

1960

ID#:

GPN-2000-000121

Source:

NASA Dryden Flight Research Center

Owner:

NASA

Rights Usage:

Public Domain

Terms of Use:

Smithsonian Terms of Use