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American Experience

Space Men Chapter 1

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

Aired 03/01/2016 | Rating NR

American Experience

Space Men Chapter 1

Clip: Season 28 Episode 6 | 8m 47sVideo has Closed Captions

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

In the mid-20th century, a small band of high-altitude pioneers exposed themselves to the extreme forces of the space age long before NASA's acclaimed Mercury 7 would make headlines. In California, a young Army doctor named John Paul Stapp tested the limits of human endurance in order to keep up with the rapid developments in rocket and aircraft technology. "Space Men" premieres March 1 at 9/8c.

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.

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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)

Project Manhigh

Video has Closed Captions

Dr. Stapp's team hoped to fly a man to over 100,000 ft. above Earth. Premieres 3/1 on PBS. (2m 5s)

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)

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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