60 years ago #OTD Joseph #Kittinger (of stratosphere jump fame; he passed away a mere 4 days ago) and an astronomer spent many hours at 25 km altitude in this capsule to perform numerous pioneering measurements - the only crewed high-altitude astronomy #balloon flight in history: many fascinating details about this 'Operation #Stargazer' in http://stratocat.com.ar/fichas-e/1962/HMN-19621213.htm and https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/hubble-there-was-operation-stargazer and https://astronomy.com/news/2020/12/project-stargazer-the-history-and-future-of-balloon-based-astronomy

Joseph #Kittinger - the holder of the record for highest #skydive (20 miles) for half a century - most of the age of #aviation - died last Friday at the age of 94. #rip

When I first saw this video back in the oughts, I couldn’t believe this was real. I watched this several times on a row. When Felix #Baumgartner beat his record over the New Mexico #spaceport in 2012, I really expected to hear #Dayvan Cowboy playing.

#boardsOfCanada

https://youtu.be/A2zKARkpDW4

Colonel Kittinger was a true aerospace pioneer.

#obituary #Kittinger

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/12/10/joseph-kittinger-colonel-parachute-obituary/

Colonel Kittinger was a true aerospace pioneer.

#obituary #Kittinger

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/12/10/joseph-kittinger-colonel-parachute-obituary/