Astronaut And Last Surviving X-15 Pilot Passed Away
Astronaut Joe Engle passed away on July 10, in Houston, Texas. He was 91. He was the only astronaut to pilot the X-15 and a space shuttle. In addition, he was the last surviving X-15 pilot.
Joe Henry Engle was born on August 26, 1932, in Chapman, Kansas. He earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1955.
Engle joined the USAF and became a test pilot. He flew the X-15 rocket plane, which contributed to the research and development that led the way for human spaceflight. He set multiple records in the X-15, including reaching an altitude of 280,600 feet.
Engle was selected as an astronaut in 1966, the youngest pilot for NASA, at age 32. He was originally assigned to the Apollo program and served as backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 14. Although he was scheduled to fly on Apollo 17, he was replaced by Harrison Schmitt, a geologist-astronaut.
Engle’s most prominent role came with the Space Shuttle program. He commanded two shuttle missions in 1981 and 1985. On STS-2, he became the first and only astronaut to manually fly the shuttle through reentry.
Per Engle’s NASA biographical data, “General Engle has flown over 185 different types of aircraft including 38 different fighter and attack aircraft. He has logged more than 14,700 flight hours – 9,900 in jets and over 224 hours in space. His military decorations include the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster. He has also been awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, and NASA Space Flight Medal with device.”
After retiring from NASA and the USAF, Engle continued to be involved in aviation and aerospace activities. He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to spaceflight and aeronautics. His NASA bio also mentioned he was an “avid outdoor sportsman and wildlife enthusiast.”
Rest In Peace