Overview

On May 27, 1931, Auguste Piccard (1884-1963) and Paul Kipfer became the first men to safely ascend into the stratosphere, riding in a pressurized gondola borne beneath a balloon designed by Piccard. This ascent was the first of many, and unmanned flights in balloons of similar design continue to this day. In addition to setting the stage for manned and unmanned exploration of the atmosphere, it was also a precursor to manned exploration of the ocean depths, which also took place initially in a craft designed by Piccard.

Background

From the earliest of times man has envied the birds in their ability to fly. Stories and myths of human flight are among the earliest and most universal in human history, although the difficulties of flight kept man...