The holder of numerous world ballooning records, Joseph W. Kittinger began his Airforce career in 1950 through the Aviation Cadet Program. Following a tour in fighters, he was assigned to serveral Airforce high-altitude balloon projects and became one of the pioneers of early space program. In 1957, he made the first flight of the Manhigh program, setting a balloon altitude record of 96,000 feet while wearing a full pressure suit inside a tiny sealed capsule.