Legendary NASA Astronaut Joe Engel Passes Away at 91

Engel was the only astronaut to pilot both the X-15 rocket plane and the space shuttle, leaving a lasting legacy in aerospace history.

Engel died at home in Houston, surrounded by family.
He flew more than 180 different aircraft types and logged over 14,000 flight hours.
Engel served as backup pilot for Apollo 14 and commanded the space shuttles Columbia and Discovery.
He was the youngest pilot to qualify for astronaut wings with the X-15 program.
Engel's contributions will inspire future generations of explorers.