From X-15 to The Moon: Edge of Space Short Film

Set in 1961, at the peak of the U.S.-Soviet space race, a determined USAF test pilot joins NASA for a bold suborbital mission aboard an X-15 hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft, shaping the future of space exploration.

Moreno Aguiari
Moreno Aguiari
Frame from the Edge of Space movie
AirCorps Restorations

The X-15 is a legendary and pivotal part of aviation history. Designed to fly high and fast, it tested the limits of engineering and subjected pilots to conditions that future astronauts would face. It made the first manned flights to the edges of space and became the world’s first piloted aircraft to reach hypersonic speeds, exceeding five times the speed of sound. The X-15 program was a critical stepping stone in the development of spaceflight during the 1960s, with pilots reaching altitudes above 50 miles and earning astronaut wings.

X15A2 with tanks
X-15A-2 (56-6671) with external fuel tanks

The short film Edge of Space recreates the historic 1961 moment when U.S. Air Force test pilots in an X-15 boost-glide aircraft crossed the Kármán line, paving the way for humanity’s first Moon landing in 1969. The project, developed over three years of painstaking work, received a special jury award at the LA Shorts 2024 Film Festival and garnered praise from both movie critics and NASA.

Despite a limited budget, the producers had access to a real X-15, which they digitally scanned to create an accurate recreation of the aircraft. The production team used cutting-edge real-time 3D creation tools, including Unreal Engine and Houdini, to craft realistic environments such as clouds, contrails, and aircraft interactions with the atmosphere. For example, the clouds surrounding the B-52 and X-15 were modeled with remarkable accuracy. Archival NASA footage was also analyzed to ensure realism in elements such as dispersion patterns, the X-15’s behavior at different altitudes, and the effects of gravity.

Frame from the Edge of Space movie X 15 and XB 52
Frame from the Edge of Space short movie
X 15 and B 52 Mother ship
X-15 attached to its B-52 mother ship with a T-38 flying nearby. Image via Wikipedia

According to director Jean de Meuron, the production team meticulously studied the appearance of Edwards Air Force Base in the 1960s, including its hangars, runways, and military facilities. Their dedication to historical and aerodynamic accuracy extended to researching how the X-15 landed. Since the aircraft was launched from a B-52 and returned to Earth without fuel, the team examined its unique design and flight path to authentically portray its operations.

Official poster for Edge of Space short film. Image credit Atticus Films
Official poster for “Edge of Space” short film. (Image credit: Atticus Films)

The X-15 program saw the construction of three aircraft, which completed 199 flights between 1959 and 1968. It was a joint project involving the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and NASA, with four of its 12 pilots being Air Force officers. Tragically, one pilot, USAF Maj. Michael J. Adams lost his life in an X-15 crash in 1967. Another X-15 pilot, Neil Armstrong, went on to become the first man to walk on the Moon.

Screen Shot 2021 05 28 at 7.51.17 AM
Joe Engle with the X-15A-2 aircraft in 1965. NASA photo

Today, both surviving X-15 aircraft are preserved and displayed in museums, along with three mockups and the two B-52 Stratofortress motherships. The X-15-1 (USAF Serial No. 56-6670) is exhibited in the “Milestones of Flight” gallery at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., though it is currently undergoing conservation work at the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. The X-15A-2 (USAF Serial No. 56-6671) is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. Retired to the museum in October 1969, it is showcased in the Research and Development Gallery alongside other iconic experimental aircraft, such as the Bell X-1B and Douglas X-3 Stiletto.

X 15 at the USAF Museum
X-15 at the USAF Museum.
X 15 1 AF Ser. No. 56 6670 is on display in the National Air and Space Museum
North American X-15 (A19690360000) at the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum. Photo by Eric Long. Photo taken on March 7, 2018.

Three X-15 mockups are also on display at various locations. One is at the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California, painted with the serial number 56-6672. Another is housed at the Pima Air & Space Museum near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, painted with serial number 56-6671. The third is a full-scale wooden mockup displayed at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, painted with serial number 56-6672 and accompanied by one of the rocket engines.

Installation of X 15 full scale mock up at Dryden
Installation of X-15 full-scale mock-up at Dryden. Image via NASA

Additionally, the two B-52 Stratofortress motherships used in the X-15 program are preserved and exhibited as well. The NB-52A (USAF Serial No. 52-003, Balls 3) is displayed at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. This aircraft launched the X-15-1 30 times, the X-15-2 11 times, and the X-15-3 31 times, as well as other experimental vehicles like the M2-F2, HL-10, and X-24A. The NB-52B (USAF Serial No. 52-008, Balls 8), which launched the majority of X-15 flights, is on permanent display outside the north gate of Edwards Air Force Base in California.

NB 52A AF Serial No. 52 003 is displayed at the Pima Air Space Museum
NB-52A (USAF Serial No. 52-003) is displayed at the Pima Air & Space Museum

Through its impressive recreation of history and commitment to accuracy, Edge of Space honors the legacy of the X-15 program, its pilots, and its vital role in the development of spaceflight during the 1960s.

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Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
1 Comment
  • The mothership B-52 at Pima Air & Space Museum was recently restored and is now displayed with an X-15 mock-up on it’s wing pylon.

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