7 September 1956: The first human flies above 100.000 feet

60 years ago on 7 September 1956, American Test pilot Iven C. Kincheloe Jr. flew at more than 3.200 km/h (2.000 mp/h) and to a height of 38.5 km (126.200 feet), becoming the first human ever to fly above 100.000 feet with the Bell X-2 rocket-powered research airplane.

Although this altitude is less than half of what is considered the edge of space today according to FAI definition (Kármán Line, 100km/62mi), Kincheloe was immediately hailed as "The first of the spacemen" and "America's No. 1 Spaceman" back in the days and still represents a great achievement in astronautics!

Photo credit: National Museum of US Air Force

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