On October 24, 2014, Dr. Alan Eustace used a state-of-the-art Pressure Suit Assembly to ascend to the top of the stratosphere beneath a large, helium-filled plastic balloon and sky dive back to Earth. He reached a maximum altitude of 135,889 feet before parachuting back to Earth, breaking the previous world record. He accomplished this mission by using a pressure suit alone for life support and foregoing the weight of a balloon gondola to ascend to the stratosphere.
In order to conserve the weight and expense of an oxygen supplies, the StratEx team decided to supply oxygen to Eustace only from the neck up. His oxygen mask was equipped with a valve that sent spent air, including carbon dioxide and humidity to the bottom part of the suit. In order for this arrangement to work, the suit had a rubber neck dam that formed a good seal. This plug was used when the suit was not being worn to maintain the integrity of the neck dam.
The Eustace-Kwan family donated this item along with the suit to the museum in 2015.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
EQUIPMENT
Pilot
Robert Alan Eustace
Dimensions
3-D: 7.3 × 15.2cm (2 7/8 × 6 in.)
Materials
teflon
Inventory Number
A20150515010
Credit Line
Gift of the Eustace-Kwan family.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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