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 Summary

David G. Simons was a doctor who worked on aerospace medical research with the United States Air Force. On August 19, 1957, Simons ascended from Crosby, Minnesota to achieve a world altitude balloon record. This collection consists of Simons' record diploma from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).

 Biographical / Historical

Dr. David G. Simons completed medical school at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1946. In 1947, he entered the United States Air Force (USAF) and began work at the USAF Aeromedical Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. There, Simons headed a project studying the effects of high altitude V-2 (A-4) missile flights on animals. Simons worked as Chief of Space Biology at the Air Force Missile Development Center at Holloman Air Force Base from 1953--1959. During this time, he worked on a project involving high altitude balloon flights. On August 19, 1957, Simons ascended from Crosby, Minnesota to achieve a world altitude balloon record. Simons was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame at the New Mexico Museum of Space History in 1987.

 Identifier

NASM.XXXX.0787

Creator

International Aeronautic Federation

Date

1957

Provenance

Otto C. Winzen, Gift, 1958, NASM.XXXX.0787

Extent

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)

Archival Repository

National Air and Space Museum Archives

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of a 9 by 12 inch record diploma from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) certifying that Major David G. Simons of the United States Air Force achieved a balloon altitude record of 30,942 meters (102,000 feet) on August 19--20, 1957.

Arrangement note

Collection is a single item.

Rights

Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests.

Restrictions

No restrictions on access

Citation

David G. Simons Record Diploma, NASM.XXXX.0787, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

Topics

Aeronautics -- Records

Balloons

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Certificates