[Illustration: Fig. 14. Project officer and pilot, Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr., standing beside the EXCELSIOR gondola at Holloman AFB, N.M. On his third and final high altitude parachute jump, from 102,800 feet, he established world records for highest parachute jump and length of free-fall which still stand today. (_U.S. Air Force photo_)] =Project EXCELSIOR.= In 1959 and 1960 the U.S. Air Force Aero Medical Laboratory collaborated with the Holloman Balloon Branch for Project EXCELSIOR, the second Air Force manned high altitude balloon program. EXCELSIOR was the dramatic climax of the high altitude free-fall studies that began as Project HIGH DIVE in 1953 using anthropomorphic dummies. As the test director for Project Excelsior, Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. made three parachute jumps from balloons, EXCELSIOR I, II, and III, from 76,000, 75,000, and a still standing record altitude of 102,800 feet. EXCELSIOR’S scientific objective was to develop a parachute system and techniques required to return a pilot or astronaut to earth following an emergency high altitude escape. =Project STARGAZER.= Project STARGAZER was the third Air Force manned high altitude balloon program. Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger. Jr., the veteran high altitude balloon pilot of MAN HIGH and EXCELSIOR, was both the pilot and project engineer. On December 13, 1962, Kittinger and U.S. Navy civilian astronomer William C. White rose to 86,000 feet to make astronomical observations with a gyro-stabilized telescope. A joint U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Smithsonian Institution, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology program, STARGAZER made only one of a scheduled four flights due to budget shortfalls and equipment difficulties. [Illustration: Fig. 15. Project STARGAZER pilot and project engineer, Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. (_left_), after landing near Lordsburg, N.M. on December 13, 1962 with U.S. Navy civilian astronomer William C. White. Kittinger and White ascended to 86,000 feet to make astronomical observations in the seventh, and final, U.S. Air Force manned high altitude balloon flight. (_U.S. Air Force photo_)] Table 2.4 U.S. Air Force Manned High Altitude Balloon Flights ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date Project/Flight Altitude (feet) Pilot ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 6/2/57 MAN HIGH I 96,200 Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. 8/19/57 MAN HIGH II 101,500 Lt. Col. David G. Simons (MC) 10/8/58 MAN HIGH III 99,700 1st Lt. Clifton McClure 11/16/59 EXCELSIOR I 76,400 Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr. 12/11/59 EXCELSIOR II 74,700 Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger. Jr. 8/16/60 EXCELSIOR III 102,800 Capt. Joseph W. Kittinger, Jr.