sub-orbital spaceflight theme
A crewed or uncrewed spacecraft reaches outer space, but its trajectory intersects the atmosphere or surface of the gravitating body from which it was launched, so that it will not complete one orbital revolution.
3 total · 2 major · 1 minor
| Story | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| movie: On the Threshold of Space (1956) | major | The film was building up to Jim Hollenbeck being sent to the edge of outer space to perform a high altitude parachute jump. |
| movie: Toward the Unknown (1956) | major | Lincoln Bond is assigned to test pilot the rocket-powered X-2, which is designed to fly to the edge of outer space and back. |
| movie: Beyond the Time Barrier (1960) | minor | Major Bill Allison piloted the X-80 experimental aircraft to sub-orbital space. |