May 6 1958

From The Space Library

May 6-7: Lt. Comdr. M. Ross (USNR) and A. Mikesell (Naval Observatory) used open gondola STRATO-LAB balloon to reach 40,000-feet altitude from Crosby, Minn.; Mikesell becoming the first astronomer to observe stratosphere, and it was first flight in which crew remained in stratosphere in open basket after sunset.