Dryden, Hugh L. (Hugh Latimer), Dr., 1898-1965 Search this
Extent:
0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1964
Summary:
This collection consists of two items relating to the X-15 Flight Test Program: a 24-page booklet, X-15 Flight Record with Thiokol Liquid Rocket Engines, prepared by the Thiokol Chemical Corporation, Reaction Motors Division, from flight data compiled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Third Printing, January 1964); and an event program for the X-15 Flight Test Program Awards Ceremony held at the NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on February 24, 1964.
Scope and Contents:
This collection consists of two items, a 7 x 5 inch booklet and an 8 x 5 inch event program. The 24-page booklet, X-15 Flight Record with Thiokol Liquid Rocket Engines, "prepared by the Thiokol Chemical Corporation, Reaction Motors Division, from flight data compiled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration" (Third Printing, January 1964, publication number PL 1-64) is designed as a souvenir of the X-15 flight test program. The illustrated booklet contains a brief history of the X-15 program and the three X-15 vehicles built by North American Aviation, Inc. using Thiokol reusable liquid rocket engines; a list of X-15 test pilots; brief information about the Thiokol XLR11 and YLR99 engines; and a chronological list of flight record entries beginning with the first flight on June 8, 1959. Each flight record entry (designed to appear handwritten) lists the date, pilot, speed and altitude reached, and remarks. Flights 1 through 98 (January 8, 1964) are pre-printed, with blank spaces provided "to help you log future successes" (space is provided to record information on 148 flights total). The program is for the X-15 Flight Test Program Awards Ceremony held at the NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on February 24, 1964. This event included the presentation of a NASA Group Achievement Award to the X-15 Flight Test Program team as well as the presentation of individual awards. Featured speakers included Hugh L. Dryden (Deputy Administrator, NASA), Paul F. Bikle (Director, NASA Flight Research Center), and Brigadier General Irving L. Branch (US Air Force, Commander, Air Force Flight Test Center).
Arrangement:
Items are arranged in chronological order.
Biographical / Historical:
First flown in 1959, the North American X-15 hypersonic research aircraft bridged the gap between human flight in the atmosphere and spaceflight. Three airframes were built by North American Aviation, Inc. for the X-15 program (serial numbers 56-6670, 56-6671, and 56-6672) each using liquid rocket engines built by the Reaction Motors Division of the Thiokol Chemical Corporation. Based at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Flight Research Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California, the X-15 was the first winged aircraft to fly Mach 4, 5, and 6 and to operate at altitudes above 30,500 m (100,000 ft). Eight of the twelve test pilots received astronaut wings for X-15 high-altitude flights.
Provenance:
Unknown, found in collection, 1992, NASM.1992.0020.0076.
Restrictions:
No restrictions on access
Rights:
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
North American X-15 Flight Record, Acc. NASM.1992.0020.0076, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.
Collection Citation:
North American X-15 Flight Record, Acc. NASM.1992.0020.0076, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Reaction Motors, Inc. Rocket Training Program (USA)
Collection Creator:
National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division. Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
Reaction Motors, Inc. Rocket Training Program (USA) [Documents]
Collection Creator:
National Air and Space Museum. Archives Division. Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
The majority of the Archives Department's public reference requests can be answered using material in these files, which may be accessed through the Reading Room at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. More specific information can be requested by contacting the Archives Research Request.
Steel frame and steel overall; two brass or copper fuel and oxidizer tanks and feed lines in back; aluminum dial pointers and other parts; glass faces on dials and two glass tubes on linear scale
Dimensions:
3-D: 109.2 × 61 × 135.9cm, 136.1kg (3 ft. 7 in. × 2 ft. × 4 ft. 5 1/2 in., 300lb.)
Fuselage and wings entirely of wood, excluding steel screws and hinges for panels, internal pipe bracings for wings and fuselage interior; motor, non-ferrous metal, nozzle possibly of aluminum; interior also with wire bundles, with white plastic insulation.
Wood
Paint
Aluminum
Steel
Zinc Chromate
Stainless Steel
Plastic
Synthetic Rubber
Natural Fabric
CadmiumResin
Dimensions:
Overall: 12 ft. 6 1/4 in. x 50 1/4 in. x 11 ft. x 50 1/4 in. (381.6 x 127.6 x 335.3 x 127.6cm)
