Joseph A. Walker

Joseph Albert Walker (February 20, 1921 – June 8, 1966) was an American pilot, experimental physicist, NASA test pilot, and astronaut. He was the first person to fly an airplane into space. Walker was one of twelve pilots who flew the North American X-15, an experimental spaceplane operated by the Air Force and NASA.

In 1961, Walker became the first person to reach the mesosphere during Flight 35. In 1963, he made three flights above 50 miles, qualifying as an astronaut. Two of these flights went above the Kármán line, the boundary of space. Walker was the first person to fly into space twice.

Sadly, Walker died in an accident on June 8, 1966.

Early life

Joseph A. Walker was born in Washington, Pennsylvania. He finished school at Trinity High School in 1938. He studied physics and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Jefferson College in 1942. After this, he joined the United States Army Air Forces. He was married and had four children.

Career

Military service

During World War II, Walker flew fighter planes and weather flights. He earned awards for his brave flying.

Test pilot career

After the war, Walker became a test pilot. He flew many special research airplanes at a flight research center.

X-15 program

Main article: North American X-15

In 1960, Walker became the first pilot to fly the X-15 for NASA. He flew the X-15 25 times. In 1961, he became the first person to fly a plane into the mesosphere. In 1963, he flew two flights above 100 kilometers, the limit for space. This made him the first person to fly into space more than once.

LLRV program

Main article: Lunar Landing Research Vehicle

Walker was the first test pilot of a special airplane used to practice moon landings. He flew this airplane 35 times. Later, Neil Armstrong flew this same airplane to help prepare for landing on the Moon.

Death

Joseph A. Walker passed away on June 8, 1966, during an air show. His airplane hit a large bomber they were flying near. The crash happened while they were practicing for a photo. Sadly, Walker was not able to escape, but another pilot on the bomber did. The accident showed that flying so close together can be very dangerous.

Awards and honors

Joseph Walker received many important awards for his work. He was given the Robert J. Collier Trophy and the Harmon International Trophy for Aviators. His school gave him an Honorary Doctor of Aeronautical Sciences degree in 1961. In 1962, he received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. In 1963, he was named Pilot of the Year.

Later, Walker was added to the Aerospace Walk of Honor in 1991 and the International Space Hall of Fame in 1995. Schools such as Joe Walker Middle School in Quartz Hill, California and Joe Walker Elementary School in Washington, Pennsylvania are named after him. In 2005, NASA gave him the Astronaut Wings award after his death. A starship design in the TV series Star Trek: Discovery was also named after him.