Aug. 16, 1960: Geronimo-o-o-o-o-o-o!!!

1960: Air Force Capt. Joe Kittinger parachutes from an open gondola tethered to a helium balloon from an altitude of 102,800 feet — more than 19 miles. It remains the highest-altitude jump ever attempted. Kittinger’s jump was no stunt but rather part of Project Excelsior, established by the U.S. Air Force to study the problems […]

1960: Air Force Capt. Joe Kittinger parachutes from an open gondola tethered to a helium balloon from an altitude of 102,800 feet -- more than 19 miles. It remains the highest-altitude jump ever attempted.

Kittinger's jump was no stunt but rather part of Project Excelsior, established by the U.S. Air Force to study the problems presented to pilots by high-altitude escape. He'd already made two jumps -- from 76,400 feet and 74,600 feet -- before strapping it on for the big one.

The Air Force came away with statistical data from his Aug. 16 jump that, even now, makes for eye-opening reading. Wearing a pressurized suit, Kittinger:

  • Jumped from the gondola at 102,800 feet.
  • Was in freefall for four-and-a-half minutes and was clocked at a maximum speed of 714 mph, faster than the speed of sound, before deploying his chute at 17,500 feet.
  • Experienced temperatures as low as minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit during freefall.
  • Landed, safe and sound, on the floor of the New Mexico desert 13 minutes, 45 seconds after leaving the gondola.
  • Set several records that are still on the books -- highest balloon ascent, highest parachute jump, longest freefall and fastest freefall speed.

But Kittinger, 29 years old at the time of his jump, wasn't through with high places or risk-taking. In 1962, Kittinger, accompanied by a U.S. Navy civilian astronomer, piloted a balloon into the upper atmosphere to 82,200 feet (.pdf), so a high-powered telescope could be used to take a closer look at deep space.

During the Vietnam War, Kittinger returned to combat flying and commanded the 555th "Triple Nickel" Tactical Fighter Squadron, shooting down a MiG-21 in a dogfight. He was subsequently shot down himself and spent 11 months as a prisoner of war at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton."

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

(Source: U.S. Air Force)

Photo: Capt. Joe Kittinger steps from a balloon-supported gondola at the altitude of 102,800 feet. (U.S. Air Force)

This article first appeared on Wired.com Aug. 16, 2007.

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