The X-15 rocket plane program pioneered crewed flights to the edge of space, with the plane carried aloft by a B-52 bomber before launching. Some X-15 pilots later earned astronaut wings, and the program set records for altitude and speed that still stand. Air Force Major Michael Adams, the final X-15 pilot, was selected for the program after his initial space station project faced funding issues. He completed six successful missions before his seventh and final flight on November 15, 1967. A malfunctioning scientific instrument motor caused an electrical system disruption at high altitude.This disruption led to the aircraft's computer and instruments malfunctioning, leaving Adams unaware of its attitude. During descent, the X-15 flew backward and entered a hypersonic spin as it lost altitude. Adams managed to stop the spin using thrusters, but could not prevent the aircraft from plunging towards the ground at Mach 4.7. He likely attempted another intervention around 80,000 feet as the plane began to disintegrate due to aerodynamic stress. All telemetry was lost as the X-15 broke apart near 62,000 feet, scattering debris over miles. Major Adams is recognized as the first in-flight fatality of the US Space Program, marking a tragic end to the X-15's otherwise remarkable safety record. His death, coupled with budget constraints and the Vietnam War, contributed to the cancellation of future X-plane programs and impacted subsequent space exploration plans. A memorial was eventually erected at the crash site as part of an Eagle Scout project and is now a protected historical site.