Remembering Joe Engle
Joe Engle, an aerospace legend who made significant contributions to both aeronautics and space at NASA, died July 10 at age 91. Being the first pilot to reach space flying two different winged vehicles is just one highlight of his storied career. This special report assembles in one place a variety of content from NASA about the life of Joe Engle.
NASA Remembers Joe Engle
Retired NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joe Engle died July 10, surrounded by his family at home in Houston. Among his many honors, he is the only astronaut to pilot both the X-15 and space shuttle. He was 91.
Read the News Release about Engle's death
A natural pilot, Gen. Joe Engle helped humanity’s dreams take flight. I’ll never forget his big smile, his warmth, and his courage. We all will miss him.
Bill Nelson
NASA Administrator
The X-15, the Pilot and the Space Shuttle
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the first powered flight of the X-15 rocket plane in 1959, X-15 pilot Joe Engle talked about his experience flying the historic X-plane and what the program meant for the Space Shuttle. Includes transcripts related to his first X-15 mission.
Read the Story about Engle
Engle made 16 flights in the X-15 and flew two Shuttle missions.
NASA History
X-15 Hypersonic Research Program
The X-15 hypersonic research program was a joint effort involving NASA, the U.S. Air Force, the Navy, and North American Aviation Inc.
The X-15 flew during a period of nearly 10 years and set the world’s unofficial speed and altitude records of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7) and 354,200 feet in a program to investigate all aspects of piloted hypersonic flight. Information gained from the highly successful X-15 program contributed to the development of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo piloted spaceflight programs as well as the Space Shuttle program.
Read About the X-15 about X-15 Hypersonic Research Program
STS-2
Second test flight of the Space Shuttle to demonstrate safe re-launch and safe return of the orbiter and crew.
Learn More
STS-51I
STS-51I was the 20th mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program and the sixth flight of Space Shuttle Discovery. During the mission, Discovery deployed three communications satellites into orbit.
Learn More
The Joe Engle Interviews
Former U.S. Air Force test pilot and NASA astronaut Joe Engle — who died on July 10, 2024 — participated in the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project in 1998 and 2004. He sat for six interviews that covered his life and career.
Download the interview transcripts here
Joe H. Engle
Joe Engle: A Pilot’s Pilot
“I never met an airplane I didn’t like. Some of them are less relaxing and less enjoyable and less fun to fly, and some of them are a lot more work to fly than others, but they’ve all got their own characteristics, they’ve all got their own personality, and I really, really enjoy any new airplane, any airplane.”
