 Explorer II gondola on display at the National Air and Space Museum | |
| National origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Mass | 6,800 kg (15,000 lb)[1] |
| Balloon volume | 100,000 m3 (3,700,000 cu ft) |
| Crew | 2 |
| Purpose | Stratospheric flight |
| Operator | National Geographic Society U. S. Army Air Corps |
| First flight | July 10, 1935 |
| Maximum altitude | 22,066 m (72,395 ft) |
| Status | Retired |
Explorer II was a crewed U.S. high-altitude balloon that was launched on November 11, 1935, and reached a record altitude of 22,066 m (72,395 ft). Launched at 8:00 am from the Stratobowl in South Dakota, the helium balloon carried a two-man crew consisting of U. S. Army Air Corps Captains Albert W. Stevens and Orvil A. Anderson inside a sealed, spherical cabin. The crew landed safely near White Lake, South Dakota, at 4:13 pm and both were acclaimed as national heroes. Scientific instruments carried on the gondola returned useful information about the stratosphere. The mission was funded by the membership of the National Geographic Society.[2]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
FWP2008was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Space Men: They were the first to brave the unknown - Transcript". American Experience. PBS. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2019.