X-15A-2 post flight photo showing heat damage from Mach 6.7 flight on 3 Oct 67. Flt. 2-53-97; pilot-Pete Knight

X-15A-2 post flight photo showing heat damage from Mach 6.7 flight on 3 Oct 67. Flt. 2-53-97; pilot-Pete Knight.

X-15A-2 post flight photo showing heat damage from Mach 6.7 flight on 3 Oct 67. Flt. 2-53-97; pilot-Pete Knight.

Photographer NASA
Location AFRC
X-15rocket-powered research aircraftNorth American AviationXLR-99 rocket engineThiokol Chemical Corp high-speed high-altitude flightB-52 air launch4520 mphMach 6 70354200 ft altitude 67 miles altitude flight controlsreaction controlsMercury programGemini programApollo programSpace Shuttlehypersonic flightheat damage