Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—In Memoriam Michael J. Adams
15 November 1967: X-15 Flight 191—Major Michael James Adams, U.S.A.F. (1930-1967) died when his X-15 broke up during a supersonic dive; a Korean War combat pilot, University of Oklahoma graduate, & Masschusetts Institute of Technology alumnus, he was selected in Manned Orbiting Laboratory Group 1 in November 1965 & successfully completed six X-15 flights, from October 1966.
Commentary: Flight 191 reached the U.S.A.F. (& later N.A.S.A.) definition of space, an altitude of fifty miles—though not the internationally recognized Kármán line, sixty-two miles (one hundred klicks)—& Adams was postumously awarded astronaut wings. He was the only fatality of the joint U.S.A.F. & N.A.S.A. X-15 program, one hundred ninety-nine flights from 1959-1968.Bonus! Space Race Song o' the Day: In Memoriam
The Phenomenauts, "Heroes" from
For All Mankind (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)
Requiescat in pace.
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