Jul 23 1956

From The Space Library

Lt. Col. Frank K. Everest (USAF) flew the Bell X-2 rocket-powered research plane at a record speed of just over 1,900 mph and to an altitude of 75,000 feet, at Edwards AFB, Calif.

Mid-1956: USAF X-17 flight test program started at Cape Canaveral to study reentry problems by simulating reentry velocities and conditions with three-stage solid-fuel Lockheed X-17. A total of 26 X-17 flights were conducted until March 1957.