Colonel Joe W Kittinger performed three extreme altitude jumps during August 1960 as part of the USAF research project ‘Excelsior’ – a precursor to the US space race and intended to test human survivability on the edge of space.

Excelsior III was the climax of the operation. Leaping from the open gondola of a 200ft diameter helium balloon with 99% of the earth's atmosphere below him, Kittinger spent four minutes thirty-six seconds in freefall. As he passed through 90,000ft his speed reached an incredible 614mph – almost the speed of sound in thin freezing air of the upper atmosphere. At 18,000ft his multi-stage parachute, operating on timers and barometric triggers, finally deployed his ‘main’.
This historic jump set an altitude record that still stands today.

Oil on Canvas Board

Size: 36" x 22"

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