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From: doug@escher.UUCP (Douglas J Freyburger)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Altitude of "space"
Message-ID: <68@escher.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 25-Jan-86 19:21:17 EST
Article-I.D.: escher.68
Posted: Sat Jan 25 19:21:17 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 26-Jan-86 20:12:32 EST
References: <8512312026.AA15784@s1-b.arpa> <70@dg_rtp.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: NASA/JPL, Pasadena, CA
Lines: 27

> > Many pilots unofficially recognized 50 (statute) miles as the beginning of
> > space, i.e. beyond the atmosphere.  This would make a number of X-15
> > missions space flights...
> In the early 60's, an altitude of 50 miles was recognized as the
> beginning of space for the purpose of earning Astronaut wings, which I
> believe were awarded to several X-15 pilots as well as to Mercury,
> Gemini, and Apollo astronauts.

Not only were some of the .X-15 pilots awarded Astronaut
wings, but the SR-71 pilots wear Air Force Astronaut wings.
The service ceiling of the SR-71 is classified, so this
might only answer how high the Air Force considers space to
be to the few cleared to know about the Blackbird in
detail.

Neil Armstrong got his astronaut wings in the X-15 before
he transfered to the candlestick rockets.
-- 

Doug Freyburger		DOUG@JPL-ROBOTICS, DOUG@JPL-VLSI,
JPL Mail Stop 23	escher!doug, escher!teleop!doug
Pasadena, CA 91109	etc.

Disclaimers: My opinions are not those of JPL, Caltech,
NASA, etc.  Apologies to companies I'm forgetting to quote
as trademark holders.  Net site JPL-ROBOTICS has its net
link down lately, so no mail gets though.