{"product_id":"2940013781672","title":"Transiting from Air to Space:","description":"The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft\/spaceplane was part of the X-series of experimental aircraft, initiated with the Bell X-1, that were made for the USAAF\/USAF, NACA\/NASA, and the USN. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in aircraft and spacecraft design. As of 2011, it holds the official world record for the fastest speed ever reached by a manned rocket-powered aircraft.\u003cbr\u003eDuring the X-15 program, 13 of the flights (by eight pilots) met the USAF spaceflight criteria by exceeding the altitude of 50 miles (80 km) thus qualifying the pilots for astronaut status. The USAF pilots qualified for USAF astronaut wings, while the civilian pilots were later awarded NASA astronaut wings.\u003cbr\u003eOf all the X-15 missions, two flights (by the same pilot) qualified as space flights per the international (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) definition of a spaceflight by exceeding 100 kilometers (62.1 mi, 328,084 ft) in altitude.","brand":"Air Force History and Museums Program","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47070251417840,"sku":"2940013781672","price":1.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013781672_p0.jpg?v=1763590175","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013781672","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}