NASA and the Air Force flew the North American X-15 rocket plane to the edge of space years before the first spacecraft orbited the Earth.
X-15 historian, Air Force veteran and science educator Michelle Evans has spent decades researching this revolutionary program that broke world records and changed spaceflight forever. Her book The X-15 Rocket Plane: Flying the First Wings into Space puts a human face on the feats of science and engineering that went into the X-15 program, introducing its largely unsung pilots.
In this book talk, she’ll share the story-behind-the-story. Chronicling the X-15 has been an adventure in and of itself, from a life-changing childhood visit to the Edwards Air Force Base to tracking down and interviewing key players such as Neil Armstrong.
You can learn more about Michelle’s life story and career from her interview for the Flight Deck podcast, which is also preserved in the Museum’s Digital Collections.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
This program is FREE for Museum Members and included in the cost of General Admission.
