Aug. 16, 1960 - 102,800 feet

[MicaelS]

51 years ago today Captain Joe Kittinger set several world records that have yet to be broken.

After being assigned to the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, Kittinger, now a captain, was appointed test director of "Project Excelsior," investigating escape from high altitude. As jet aircraft flew higher and faster, the Air Force became increasingly concerned with the hazards faced by flight crews ejecting from these high performance aircraft. Project Excelsior was established in 1958 to study and solve these high altitude escape problems.

During this project, there were three high altitude jumps accomplished from a balloon-supported gondola; the first from 76,400 feet; the second from 74,700 feet 25 days later; on Aug. 16, 1960, from 102,800 feet, the highest altitude from which man has ever jumped. It was Kittinger who did the jumping.

In freefall for four and a half minutes, Kittinger fell at speeds up to 714 mph, exceeding the speed of sound. He experienced temperatures as low as -94 degrees Fahrenheit. Kittinger opened his parachute at 18,000 feet and landed safely in the New Mexico desert after a 13 minute 45 second descent.

Kittinger.....Set several records that are still on the books — highest balloon ascent, highest parachute jump, longest freefall and fastest freefall speed.

Since Kittinger’s jump, a number of pretenders have announced plans to eclipse the record. So far, no one has.

http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2011/08/0816joe-kittinger-parachute-jump-record/

http://www.af.mil/information/heritage/person.asp?dec=&pid=123006518

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kittinger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE71aKXjss0&feature=related

[Odin2005]

1. K&R

[infidel dog]

2. A very brave man, Captain Kittinger.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Book rec! "The Pre-Astronauts"

http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781557507327-9

[Hart2008]

4. K & R

:kick: