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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.