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American Experience

Project Manhigh

Dr. Stapp's team hoped to fly a man to over 100,000 ft. above Earth. Premieres 3/1 on PBS.

Aired 03/01/2016 | Rating NR

American Experience

Project Manhigh

Clip: Season 28 Episode 6 | 2m 5sVideo has Closed Captions

Dr. Stapp's team hoped to fly a man to over 100,000 ft. above Earth. Premieres 3/1 on PBS.

Project Manhigh was woefully underfunded and undervalued, but Dr. John Paul Stapp and his Air Force team were certain of the project's success. Using spare parts and ingenuity, they assembled a capsule that attached to a newly-invented balloon they hoped would carry a man to heights over 100,000 feet about Earth's surface. "Space Men" premieres March 1 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Aired 03/01/2016 | Rating NR

Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Support provided by:

Liberty Mutual InsuranceCarlisle

Space Men Preview

Before man could step on the moon, we had to take a giant leap. Premieres 3/1 on PBS. (30s)

A New Frontier

Video has Closed Captions

Since 1783 balloonists risked their lives attempting ever-higher altitudes. Premieres 3/1. (2m 31s)

A Ring-Side View of the Heavens

Video has Closed Captions

In 1957, David Simons rose a record-breaking 101,500 ft. above Earth. Premieres 3/1 on PBS (2m 20s)

Space Men Chapter 1

Video has Closed Captions

Before NASA's rockets, a team of explorers took to the skies in balloons. Premieres 3/1 (8m 47s)

Testing Mankind's Limits

Video has Closed Captions

John Paul Stapp tested the limits of human physiology. Premieres March 1 at 9/8c on PBS. (2m 59s)

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Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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