On Aug. 16, 1960, Col. Kittinger stepped from a balloon-supported gondola at the altitude of 102,800 feet. In freefall for 4.5 minutes at speeds up to 714 mph and temperatures as low as -94 degrees Fahrenheit, he opened his parachute at 18,000 feet. (U.S. Air Force photo) Kittinger's fall was captured by a camera onboard the Excelsior III balloon and made national headlines all over the world. Life magazine displayed the historic photo on its Aug. 29, 1960 edition.