This installment of "The American Experience" is about the pre-space program. In other words, before NASA was formed the US Air Force/Army Air Corps had been conducting a variety of experiments challenging the limits of human endurance...all to prove that people can go higher and faster than anyone expected. In the course of the show, it talks about insane rocket sleds but especially focused on balloons which went higher and higher and, in some cases, featured folks parachuting to Earth from these dizzying heights. It's hard to imagine anyone jumping from 100,000+ feet...and survive.
All in all, quite fascinating and a nice look at men who laid the groundwork for the space program through their efforts.
All in all, quite fascinating and a nice look at men who laid the groundwork for the space program through their efforts.
