Skip to main content
Back to Show
American Experience

A Ring-Side View of the Heavens

Radioing he had "a ring-side view of the heavens" Air Force officer David G. Simons made history in 1957 high aboard his Manhigh II balloon. He rose 101,500 feet above Earth, writing later he could barely comprehend the beauty of the sky. He was celebrated by The New York Times as "The First Space Man." "Space Men" premieres March 1 at 9/8c on PBS American Experience.

Support Provided By
Season
The Presidents: Reagan (Part 2)
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:53:50
Ronald Reagan left the White House one of the most popular presidents of the 20th century.
The Presidents: Reagan (Part 1)
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:50:17
A biography from American Experience's collection of presidential portraits.
The Presidents: FDR (Part 2)
Unlock with PBS Passport
2:16:40
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
The Presidents: FDR (Part 1)
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:44:52
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
The Presidents: LBJ (Part 2)
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:50:24
Follow LBJ from rural Texas to his ascendancy to the presidency after the assassination of JFK.
The Presidents: LBJ (Part 1)
Unlock with PBS Passport
1:50:37
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
The Presidents: Nixon
Unlock with PBS Passport
2:47:05
Part of the award-winning The Presidents collection.
Active loading indicator