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North American X-15

Retired

North American Aviation

The North American X-15 was a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as part of the X-plane series of experimental aircraft.

Key figures

Total launches
13
Successes
12
Failures
1
Success rate
92.3 %
Success streak
1
Maiden flight
Jun 8, 1959
Reusable
Yes
Shortest launch interval ⓘ
16d 2h
Planned launches
0

Technology

Length
15.47 m
Diameter
6.61 m
Launch mass
15,195 t
Liftoff thrust
286 kN
Stages
1

Launches per year

of which in our database: 13

1962: 1 Successes119621963: 4 Successes419631965: 4 Successes419651966: 1 Successes119661967: 1 Successes1967: 1 Failures219671968: 1 Successes11968
Successes Failures Other/planned

History & events

  1. Jul 17, 1962🚀 Maiden flightFlight 62View launch →
  2. Sep 28, 1965👨‍🚀 Crewed flightFlight 150View launch →
  3. Oct 14, 1965👨‍🚀 Crewed flightFlight 153View launch →
  4. Nov 1, 1966👨‍🚀 Crewed flightFlight 174View launch →
  5. Oct 17, 1967👨‍🚀 Crewed flightFlight 190View launch →
  6. Nov 15, 1967💥 FailureFlight 191View launch →
  7. Nov 15, 1967👨‍🚀 Crewed flightFlight 191View launch →
  8. Aug 21, 1968👨‍🚀 Crewed flightFlight 197View launch →

Sources