This photo from a chase plane, first published in 1962,  shows the X-15 pulling up into a climb after launch. Final climated usually was a bit more than 40 degrees for altitude flights.

Sunlight refracting through the chase plane's canopy.transforms a simple image to a work of natural art.

This photo, NASA number EC65-884 has been widely published and reproduced, usually in the wrong orientation -- rotated 90 degress counterclockwise. This error is perpetuated to this day on the NASA Dryden web site and has spread from there to many other published sources.  One that got it right was the September, 1962 issue of National Geographic.

Send questions and comments on the SierraFoot X-15 pages to Paul Raveling.
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