Explorer II

<p><i>Explorer II</i> was a crewed U.S. <a href="/facts/High-altitude_balloon/abHgJfTT">high-altitude balloon</a> 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 <a href="/facts/Stratobowl/fytYBQnq">Stratobowl</a> in <a href="/facts/South_Dakota/R51Fbf1t">South Dakota</a>, the helium balloon carried a two-man crew consisting of <a href="/facts/United_States_Army_Air_Corps/f5FK5BKQ">U.S. Army Air Corps</a> Captains <a href="/facts/Albert_W._Stevens/tHp7vXnA">Albert W. Stevens</a> and <a href="/facts/Orvil_A._Anderson/3Lu0a9Qj">Orvil A. Anderson</a> inside a sealed, spherical cabin. The crew landed safely near <a href="/facts/White_Lake%2c_South_Dakota/zQXszhya">White Lake, South Dakota</a>, at 4:13 pm and both were acclaimed as national heroes. Scientific instruments carried on the gondola returned useful information about the <a href="/facts/Stratosphere/taBra67V">stratosphere</a>. The mission was funded by the membership of the <a href="/facts/National_Geographic_Society/mlx2uHa4">National Geographic Society</a>.
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Explorer II open-in-new

Explorer II