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X-15A-2
Part of X-15A

X-15A-2

X-15A-2
Credit: NASA

American manned spaceplane. The crash-damaged X-15 number 2 was rebuilt to attain even higher speeds. The body frame was stretched, and two drop tanks were added, increasing propellant load by 75%. Reached Mach 6.7 and 108 km altitude.

Thrust: 262.45 kN (59,000 lbf). Gross mass: 25,455 kg (56,118 lb). Unfuelled mass: 8,317 kg (18,335 lb). Specific impulse: 276 s. Height: 15.47 m (50.75 ft). Diameter: 1.42 m (4.65 ft). Span: 6.80 m (22.30 ft). Apogee: 75 km (46 mi).

An ablative heat shield was applied to protect the spaceplane during re-entry. The X-15A-2 reached the highest speeds and altitudes of any manned spaceplane until the space shuttle entered service.

The X-15A-2, modified from the number two aircraft and delivered to NASA in February 1964, included among other new features, a 28-in. fuselage extension to carry liquid hydrogen for a supersonic combustion ramjet that was flown (as a dummy) but never tested. It also had external tanks for liquid ammonia and liquid oxygen. These tanks provided roughly 60 seconds of additional engine burn and were used on the aircraft's Mach 6.7 flight. While adding to the speed the X-15 did achieve, the tanks also increased the aircraft's weight to almost 57,000 lb and added significantly to the drag experienced by the aircraft in flight.

700 hours was needed to refurbish the heat shield. The ablative covering had to be completely stripped off, then reapplied. After the record Mach 6.93 flight, the aircraft received thermal structural damage and the covering was severely pitted and charred. Repair was uneconomical and the aircraft was grounded.

Crew Size: 1. Spacecraft delta v: 2,020 m/s (6,620 ft/sec).

Data - X-15A-2


More at: X-15A-2.

Family: aircraft-launched, Rocketplane, Spaceplane, Suborbital, US Rocketplanes. Country: USA. Engines: J57-19, None, XLR99. Propellants: Lox/Ammonia. Stages: X-15A-2 Tanks, NB-52, X-15A-2 stage. Agency: USAF, North American. Bibliography: 38, 4312, 44, 459, 49, 97, 7027.
Photo Gallery

X-15 ablative coatX-15 ablative coat
X-15A-2 ablative coating
Credit: NASA


X-15C 3-viewX-15C 3-view
Credit: © Mark Wade


X15 DeltaX15 Delta



1964 February - .
1964 June 15 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52.
1964 June 23 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1964 June 25 - . 17:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Hidden Hills DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003.
1964 August 14 - . 17:54 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Delamar Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003. FAILURE: Nose gear deployed at Mach 4.2..
1964 September 29 - . 21:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Mud Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. FAILURE: Nose gear scoop door causes handling difficulties..
1964 November 6 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52.
1964 November 16 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52.
1964 November 30 - . 20:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Hidden Hills DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.
1965 February 15 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52.
1965 February 15 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52.
1965 February 17 - . 18:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Mud Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. FAILURE: Landing skid extends at Mach 4.3..
1965 April 28 - . 20:26 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Hidden Hills DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.
1965 May 13 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1965 May 18 - . 17:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Mud Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.
1965 June 4 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1965 June 8 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1965 June 11 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1965 June 22 - . 17:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Delamar Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.
1965 July 2 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1965 July 8 - . 17:16 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Delamar Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003.
1965 August 3 - . 20:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Delamar Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.
1965 September 2 - . 17:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Delamar Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.
1965 September 22 - . 18:58 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Delamar Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003.
1965 November 3 - . 17:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Cuddeback Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003.
1966 April 13 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1966 April 20 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1966 May 5 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1966 May 18 - . 18:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Mud Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003.
1966 June 27 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52.
1966 July 1 - . 19:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Mud Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. FAILURE: Erroneous failure indication results in emergency landing at Mud Lake..
1966 July 20 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1966 July 21 - . 20:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Delamar Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003.
1966 August 3 - . 16:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Delamar Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.
1966 August 12 - . 18:25 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Delamar Dry Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003.
1966 August 30 - . 17:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Mud Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. FAILURE: SAS system drops out repeatedly, hydrogen peroxide fire in ventral fin..
1966 October 7 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1966 October 19 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1966 November 18 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1966 November 18 - . 21:24 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Mud Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.
1967 May 5 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1967 May 8 - . 19:27 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Hidden Hills DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. FAILURE: Eyelid installed on one window; other window fogs up..
1967 August 7 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52.
1967 August 11 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1967 August 16 - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Pad: Edwards. Launch Platform: NB-52. FAILURE: Failure.
1967 August 21 - . 17:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Hidden Hills DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.
1967 October 3 - . 21:31 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Mud Lake DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008. FAILURE: Heat flow from dummy ramjet nearly burns tail off..

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