South Dakota, United States, 1935. The National Geographic-Army Air Corps stratosphere balloon Explorer II prepares to rise from the Stratobowl near Rapid City, S.D., on November 11, 1935. It carried two “aeronauts” 72,395 feet (nearly 14 miles) into the stratosphere – the highest men would go for the next 21 years. (Photo by H. Lee Wells via National Geographic)
|