Joseph Kittinger, a former U.S. Air Force captain, accomplished what few had dared to attempt by parachuting from a balloon at a breathtaking altitude of 102,800 feet above the New Mexico desert. This jump was conducted as part of Project Excelsior, which aimed to gather information essential for the safe return of astronauts from high-altitude ejection scenarios. The jump was meticulously planned, involving a stratospheric balloon that carried Kittinger into the upper atmosphere where the air is thin and the temperatures are frigid.

On the ascent, Kittinger's balloon took him through layers of the atmosphere until it reached the stratosphere. Once at the peak height, Kittinger opened the balloon and launched himself into free fall. During the initial seconds of the plunge, he experienced a host of physiological challenges due to the lack of atmospheric pressure, including brief unconsciousness. His free-fall lasted an impressive 4 minutes and 36 seconds, during which he reached speeds of 614 miles per hour, making him the first person to exceed the speed of sound without an aircraft.

Kittinger had to strategically navigate through the challenges of extreme altitudes and the dangers associated with free falling for such a duration. Upon deploying his parachute at 18,000 feet, he made a safe landing, marking a pivotal moment in aerospace history. The knowledge gained from this jump was invaluable for future military and civilian high-altitude jumps and has been referenced in discussions about space exploration and astronaut safety.