US astronaut Joseph Kittinger, 94, dies

Then Captain. Kittinger flew free for four minutes and 37 seconds, at speeds of over 600 mph.

The jump was part the early space-age exploration. This was before humans landed on Mars and it wasn’t clear if a person could survive a jump from space.

According to John L. Mica, a friend of Colonel Keatinger, the former US Representative, The Associated Press, Colonel Keatinger succumbed to lung cancer. mentioned. The American Parachute Association (USPA), too. announce His death.

In a statement, the USPA said late Friday that it was saddened by his death. They noted that he had become a national symbol when he “made an isolated long jump from hot air balloon 102 800 feet above ground” on August 1. 16, 1960. As a US Air Force Captain, he was involved in Project Excelsior.

As part of the project, he completed three jumps over 10 months from a pressurized gondola lifted into the stratosphere by large helium balloons—his first attempt was nearly fatal, but he was undeterred. The project was intended to test whether humans could survive rescues at high altitudes and to develop ejection systems to aid military pilots.

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His latest record-breaking achievement jump He took off from the New Mexico desert in a cumbersome pressure suit—that would malfunction briefly—and outfitted with gear nearly twice his weight, and dropped at record speeds.

He took 1 hour and 31 mins to reach his full height. However, he started to feel severe pain in the right side of his hand due to a failed pressure gloves. He remained at his peak height for 12 minutes, before he emerged from his gondola and took a free fall. Then he parachuted down to the landing.

“There’s no way you can conceive of speed,” said the colonel. Kittinger told Florida Trend in 2011. “There is nothing you can see to know how fast you are going. You have no depth perception. … There are no guideposts. I only hear myself breathing into the helmet.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower awarded him the Harmon Trophy in 1960 for his outstanding achievements in aviation.

His record for the longest free parachute descent and highest balloon ascent would be 52 years. It was broken when Colonel Kettinger was Chancellor Austria 2012. Felix BaumgartnerJumped from 128,000 feet and then descended to the ground at a faster speed 800 mph.

Joseph Keatinger Jr. was born in Tampa in 1928. He became fascinated by airplanes from a young age. depending For the New Mexico Museum of Space History. He studied at the University of Florida before applying to Air Force cadet school. He received his pilot wings in 1950.

After a career with Air Force, which included three tours in Vietnam as pilot, he retired as a colonel in 1978. He also spent 11 months as a prisoner-of-war in Vietnam. depending To the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

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He was an adventurer who continued to lead, setting another record for the longest flight distance in 1000-meter helium balloons in 1983.

He was the first person to fly solo across Atlantic Ocean in a helium balloon. The delighted Colonel Kittinger Tell Correspondents at that time stated that the trip was an “unadulterated adventure.” “You just have the courage to do it, that’s American way,” he said.

Colonel Kittinger published a book called The Long and Lonely Jump in 1961. He continued to be involved in aviation projects, particularly balloon ones, even after his retirement. He was born in Orlando, Florida. park named after him.

According to the USPA, a memorial service will take place in January.