Joseph Walker

Joseph Walker

NASA test pilot
Date of Birth: 20.02.1921
Country: USA

Content:
  1. US Air Force Test Pilot and Unofficial Astronaut
  2. Post-War Career and Flight Testing
  3. Historic X-15 Flights
  4. Record-Breaking Altitude
  5. Tragic End
  6. Controversial Absence from "Space Mirror"

US Air Force Test Pilot and Unofficial Astronaut

Early Life and Military Service

Born in a small town in Pennsylvania, this remarkable pilot distinguished himself during World War II as a fighter pilot operating a Lockheed P-38 Lightning and a reconnaissance aircraft. His bravery and skill earned him several military honors.

Post-War Career and Flight Testing

After the war, he continued his career in the US military as a test pilot, tasked with evaluating cutting-edge aircraft and ensuring their combat readiness. He became part of the X-15 suborbital flight program and spent the last two years of his life working on the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) program.

Historic X-15 Flights

Suborbital Spaceflights

This pilot flew the North American X-15 fighter jet and became an unofficial astronaut. He made history as the first person to travel to space twice, crossing the 100-kilometer (62-mile) altitude boundary of space according to international classification. He also achieved an altitude above 50 miles, which meets the US Air Force's definition of space.

Record-Breaking Altitude

On August 22, 1963, he set a record for the highest altitude reached by a piloted aircraft, soaring to 107,960 meters (354,200 feet). This record stood until October 4, 2004. He was the only pilot to fly the X-15 above the internationally recognized Karman line (100 kilometers), and he did so on two separate occasions.

Tragic End

His life was tragically cut short in an aviation accident on June 8, 1966. During a formation flight, his F-104 Starfighter fighter jet collided with the tail section of an XB-70 Valkyrie aircraft. The catastrophic crash took his life, leaving a legacy of courage and contributions to aviation history.

Controversial Absence from "Space Mirror"

Despite his significant achievements, reports suggest that his name is not included on the "Space Mirror" at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral. Instead, the "Space Mirror" bears the names of pilots who never even reached orbital space, leaving many to question this omission given his pivotal role in space exploration history.

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