Robert A. Rushworth
United States Air Force X-15 pilot and major general (1924–1993) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Robert A. Rushworth?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Robert Aitken "Bob" Rushworth (October 9, 1924 – March 18, 1993[1]) was a United States Air Force major general, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War pilot, mechanical and aeronautical engineer, test pilot and astronaut. He was one of twelve pilots who flew the North American X-15, an experimental spaceplane jointly operated by the Air Force and NASA. He flew 34 of the program's 199 flights, more than any other pilot.
Robert A. Rushworth | |
---|---|
Born | Robert Aitken Rushworth (1924-10-09)October 9, 1924 Madison, Maine, U.S. |
Died | March 18, 1993(1993-03-18) (aged 68) Camarillo, California, U.S. |
Resting place | Forest Hill Cemetery |
Nationality | American |
Other names | Bob Rushworth |
Alma mater | University of Maine (BEng, 1951) Air Force Institute of Technology (BS, 1954) |
Occupation | Test pilot |
Space career | |
USAF astronaut | |
Rank | Major general, USAF |
Selection | 1958 MISS Group |
Missions | X-15 Flight 87 |
Retirement | June 1, 1981 |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force |
Years of service | 1944–1981 |
Rank | Major general |
Battles/wars | World War II Korean War Vietnam War |
Awards | Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Air Medal James H. Doolittle Award |
On June 27, 1963, he flew the X-15 to an altitude above 50 miles, thereby qualifying as an astronaut according to the United States definition of the boundary of space. However, this altitude did not surpass the Kármán line, the internationally accepted boundary of 100 kilometers (62 miles).