Joe Engle, who had the distinction of being the only astronaut to pilot an X-15 aircraft and a space shuttle, died in Houston on Wednesday, July 10. He was 91.

Joe Henry Engle was born on Aug. 26, 1932, in Abilene, Kan., to Albert and Margaret (Beaver) Engle. He grew up in nearby Chapman. His father ran a farm and taught agriculture courses in a high school.

Joe Engle's Remarkable Career Bridged Gap Between Air and Space, Broke Records. Astronaut, X-15 test pilot and space shuttle pilot Joe Engle has died at home in Houston, Texas. He was 91.

Engle, who was an Air Force colonel when he left NASA, spent a total of 224 hours in space. Friend of Yeager Joe Henry Engle was born in Abilene, Kan., on Aug. 26, 1932, and raised in nearby Chapman.

Engle became the second human to enter space (but not Earth orbit) on three occasions, behind only fellow X-15 pilot Joe Walker. The first and highest of Engle’s flights was achieved on June 29 ...

Joe Engle, who had the distinction of being the only astronaut to pilot an X-15 aircraft and a space shuttle, died in Houston on Wednesday, July 10. He was 91 years old.

Over his distinguished career, Engle flew over 185 different aircraft, including NASA space shuttles HUM Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Retired NASA astronaut Joe Engle from a 1971 photo Joe ...