Project Excelsior

Project Excelsior was a series of high-altitude parachute jumps made by Colonel Joseph Kittinger of the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1959 and 1960. The purpose of the project was to test the Beaupre multi-stage parachute system intended to be used in the X-15 experimental aircraft program.

Background

Project Excelsior was initiated by the United States Air Force to design a parachute system that would allow a safe and controlled descent after a high-altitude ejection. The project was named after the Latin word for "ever upward", reflecting the ambitious goals of the project.

Jumps

Three jumps were made as part of the project, each from a different altitude and with different objectives. The first jump, from an altitude of 76,400 feet, was a near-disaster when the equipment malfunctioned. The second jump, from 74,700 feet, was successful. The third and final jump, from an altitude of 102,800 feet, set several records, including the highest parachute jump, the longest freefall, and the fastest speed by a human through the atmosphere.

Legacy

The data collected during Project Excelsior contributed to the development of the parachute systems used in later space missions, including the Apollo program. The project also contributed to our understanding of the human body's capacity to survive in extreme conditions.

See also

• Joseph Kittinger
• X-15
• Apollo program

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Project Excelsior

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  Kittinger jump
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  Joseph Kittinger and the Excelsior gondola
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  Kittinger's Jump by Lookout Mountain Air Force Station
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  Joseph Kittinger after jump 1960 US Air Force
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  Excelsior NMUSAF Display
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  Comparison International Standard Atmosphere space diving