OTD In Space - August 22: X-15 Sets World Altitude Record
On Aug. 22, 1963, U.S. Air Force Captain Joe Walker flew an X-15 space plane higher than any pilot had ever flown before.
Walker reached an altitude of over 67 miles (108 kilometers). That's about 5 miles (8 km) above the edge of space! Walker experienced about five minutes of weightlessness over the course of the 11-minute flight. This was the second and final suborbital spaceflight of the X-15 program. Walker piloted both flights and became the first person to go to space twice. For both flights, he flew in the space plane X-15 #3, which also became the first reused spacecraft to return to space.
Walker reached an altitude of over 67 miles (108 kilometers). That's about 5 miles (8 km) above the edge of space! Walker experienced about five minutes of weightlessness over the course of the 11-minute flight. This was the second and final suborbital spaceflight of the X-15 program. Walker piloted both flights and became the first person to go to space twice. For both flights, he flew in the space plane X-15 #3, which also became the first reused spacecraft to return to space.
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TechTranscript
00:00On this day in space.
00:03In 1963, U.S. Air Force Captain Joe Walker flew an X-15 space plane higher than any pilot had ever flown before.
00:10Walker reached an altitude of over 67 miles. That's 5 miles above the edge of space.
00:15Walker experienced about 5 minutes of weightlessness over the course of the 11-minute flight.
00:20This was the second and final suborbital spaceflight of the X-15 program.
00:24Walker piloted both flights and became the first person to go to space twice.
00:28For both flights, he flew on the space plane X-15 No. 3, which also became the first reused spacecraft to return to space.
00:34And that's what happened on this day in space.
00:37♪