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 human to reach the mesosphere during Flight 35. In 1963, he made three flights above 50 miles, qualifying as an astronaut under the United States definition of space. Two of these flights also went above the Kármán line, the internationally accepted boundary of space at 100 kilometers (62.14 miles). Walker's achievements came right after the Mercury and Vostok programs, making him the first person to fly into space twice. He was the only X-15 pilot to fly above 100 km during the program.

Sadly, Walker died in a group formation accident on June 8, 1966.

Early life

Joseph A. Walker was born in Washington, Pennsylvania and finished school at Trinity High School in 1938. He later studied physics and got a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Jefferson College in 1942. After that, 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 photo aircraft on weather flights. He earned awards for his brave flying.

Test pilot career

After the war, Walker became a test pilot and flew many special research airplanes. He worked at a flight research center and flew many different types of planes for important projects.

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 that went above 100 kilometers, which is the international 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 also 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 bumped into 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 achievements. He was given the Robert J. Collier Trophy, the Harmon International Trophy for Aviators, and several other special honors. His school gave him an Honorary Doctor of Aeronautical Sciences degree in 1961, and in 1962 he received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. In 1963, he was named Pilot of the Year.

Walker was later 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.