Space Men
Season 28 Episode 6 | 52m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
The United States Air Force brought men up 19 miles, testing the limits of human endurance
In the 1950s and early '60s, a small band of high-altitude pioneers exposed themselves to the extreme forces of the space age long before NASA's acclaimed Mercury 7 would make headlines. Though largely forgotten today, balloonists were the first to venture into the frozen near-vacuum on the edge of our world, exploring the very limits of human physiology and human ingenuity in this lethal realm.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Funding for Season 28 of American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance, The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS stations. Additional funding for Space Men provided by The Yawkey Foundations.
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Space Men
Season 28 Episode 6 | 52m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
In the 1950s and early '60s, a small band of high-altitude pioneers exposed themselves to the extreme forces of the space age long before NASA's acclaimed Mercury 7 would make headlines. Though largely forgotten today, balloonists were the first to venture into the frozen near-vacuum on the edge of our world, exploring the very limits of human physiology and human ingenuity in this lethal realm.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Preview: S28 Ep6 | 30s | Before man could step on the moon, we had to take a giant leap. Premieres 3/1 on PBS. (30s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S28 Ep6 | 2m 31s | Since 1783 balloonists risked their lives attempting ever-higher altitudes. Premieres 3/1. (2m 31s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S28 Ep6 | 2m 5s | Dr. Stapp's team hoped to fly a man to over 100,000 ft. above Earth. Premieres 3/1 on PBS. (2m 5s)
A Ring-Side View of the Heavens
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S28 Ep6 | 2m 20s | In 1957, David Simons rose a record-breaking 101,500 ft. above Earth. Premieres 3/1 on PBS (2m 20s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S28 Ep6 | 8m 47s | Before NASA's rockets, a team of explorers took to the skies in balloons. Premieres 3/1 (8m 47s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S28 Ep6 | 2m 59s | John Paul Stapp tested the limits of human physiology. Premieres March 1 at 9/8c on PBS. (2m 59s)
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Support for PBS provided by:
Funding for Season 28 of American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance, The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS stations. Additional funding for Space Men provided by The Yawkey Foundations.