At the Edge of Space: The X-15 Flight Program

Thompson’s adrenaline-fueled account of the X-15 program is the ultimate insider’s view: he flew as one of the twelve test pilots. These men truly had the right stuff, essentially piloting a seat strapped to a rocket 300,000 feet into the air—right to the edge of space. It’s all here, from late-night uncertainties in desert bars to the monumental technical challenges, to the record-breaking flights themselves.