The North American X-15 was the last in a line of manned rocket-powered research airplanes built during the 1950s to explore ever-faster and higher flight regimes. This was an era before computers were commonplace, and the only way to investigate the unknown was to go there. The program was begun in 1954 specifically to produce the first hypersonic (velocities greater than five times the speed of sound) manned aircraft. Forward-thinking researchers also decided to design the airplane to fly to the edge of space, long before the manned space program had begun in earnest. This book is a collection of illustrations. With over 350 b/w and 50 color photos, this scrapbook provides an excellent visual look at a very exciting research program.