He was born on March 13, 1886 in Belfast, Maine. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1909 with a master's degree in electrical engineering.
While flying over South America in 1930, Stevens took the first photograph of the Earth in a way that the horizon's curvature is visible.[1] To photograph through haze, Stevens often employed infrared-sensitive film for long-distance aerial photography.[2]
Accompanied by Lieutenant Charles D. McAllister of the Army Air Corps, Stevens took the first photograph of the Moon's shadow projected onto the Earth during a solar eclipse in August, 1932.[3]
On July 29, 1934, Stevens and two other Army Air Corps officers, Major William Kepner and Captain Orvil Arson Anderson, ascended in a specially-constructed balloon and gondola named Explorer I over north-western Nebraska in an attempt to exceed the current altitude record for manned flight. However, nearing the current record height, the balloon envelope ruptured, sending the gondola plunging to earth.[4] Fortunately, all three crew were able to eventually exit and parachute to earth before the gondola crashed into a farm field.[5]
On November 11, 1935, Stevens, along with Captain Anderson, made a record balloon ascent from the "Stratobowl" (a natural depression) near Rapid City, South Dakota.[6] There were 20,000 spectators, while millions of people listened to a live NBC radio broadcast.[7] Their sealed gondola Explorer II floated to 72,395 feet (22,066 m), nearly 14 miles (23 km), a world altitude record unequaled until 1946 and a balloon record unequaled until 1956.[8][9][10][11]
Stevens was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross – one award for each of his two famous balloon flights.
^Laurence, William L. (December 31, 1930). "Earth's Curve Seen in Photo from Plane; Picture Shown to Scientists Has Rounding of Horizon 300 Miles Away". The New York Times. p. 1.
^Popular Mechanics,Aerial picture of mountain 200 miles away. January 1930, p. 96.
^"Stevens Photographs Eclipse 5 Miles In Air. Army Expert Says That Corona Sprang Into Sight as if Switch Was Snapped". The New York Times. September 1, 1932. p. 10. Retrieved December 30, 2009. Flying at an altitude of five miles near the centre line of the eclipse zone, the aerial unit of the National Geographic Society's eclipse expedition, conducted by Captain Albert W. Stevens and Lieutenant Charles D. McAllister of the Army Air Corps, had an unobstructed view of the eclipse throughout totality. ...
^"Space Men: They were the first to brave the unknown - Transcript". American Experience. PBS. March 1, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
^"Pictures Tell Story Of American's Stratosphere Flight" Popular Science October 1934
^"Gondola Steamed 73,000 Feet In Air. Captains Stevens and Anderson, Arriving in Chicago, Say They Were Mystified. Stratosphere Balloonists, With Capt. Williams, Ground Officer, Will Reach Capital Today". The New York Times. November 13, 1935. Retrieved May 26, 2011. Captain Orvil A. Anderson and Captain Albert W. Stevens declared here today that they are willing to take another trip into the stratosphere at any time, and are confident that on the next endeavor they will surpass their record fourteen-mile ascent.
^Lee Wells Jr. (1935). . National Geographic. Archived from the original on January 18, 2010.
^"Space Men: Transcript". American Experience. PBS. July 9, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
^"Honored On Flight Into Stratosphere. Captains Stevens and Anderson Receive Hubbard Medal of Geographic Society. Notable Assembly in Washington Sees Photos Made 13 Miles Above the Earth". The New York Times. December 12, 1935. p. 29. Retrieved December 30, 2009. The Hubbard Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society was presented by General Pershing tonight to Captain Albert W. Stevens and Captain Orvil A. Anderson of the Army Air Corps, in recognition of their ascent into the stratosphere on Nov. 11, when they reached an official altitude of 72,395 feet. ...
^Record Balloon Flights - The Race to the Stratosphere 2006-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
^Goliath, The first space race? The Explorer II balloon flight of 1935. Sep 22, 2006.
External links
Media related to Albert William Stevens at Wikimedia Commons
December 31, 2022
albert, william, stevens, other, people, named, albert, stevens, albert, stevens, disambiguation, march, 1886, march, 1949, officer, united, states, army, corps, balloonist, aerial, photographer, born, 1886, march, 1886belfast, maine, diedmarch, 1949, 1949, ag. For other people named Albert Stevens see Albert Stevens disambiguation Albert William Stevens March 13 1886 March 26 1949 was an officer of the United States Army Air Corps balloonist and aerial photographer Albert William StevensBorn 1886 03 13 March 13 1886Belfast Maine U S DiedMarch 26 1949 1949 03 26 aged 63 Redwood City California U S Allegiance United StatesBranchArmy Air CorpsRankCaptainCommands heldExplorer IIWarsWorld War IIAwardsDistinguished Flying Cross 2Hubbard Medal 1935 Mackay Trophy 1935 Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditHe was born on March 13 1886 in Belfast Maine He graduated from the University of Maine in 1909 with a master s degree in electrical engineering While flying over South America in 1930 Stevens took the first photograph of the Earth in a way that the horizon s curvature is visible 1 To photograph through haze Stevens often employed infrared sensitive film for long distance aerial photography 2 Accompanied by Lieutenant Charles D McAllister of the Army Air Corps Stevens took the first photograph of the Moon s shadow projected onto the Earth during a solar eclipse in August 1932 3 On July 29 1934 Stevens and two other Army Air Corps officers Major William Kepner and Captain Orvil Arson Anderson ascended in a specially constructed balloon and gondola named Explorer I over north western Nebraska in an attempt to exceed the current altitude record for manned flight However nearing the current record height the balloon envelope ruptured sending the gondola plunging to earth 4 Fortunately all three crew were able to eventually exit and parachute to earth before the gondola crashed into a farm field 5 On November 11 1935 Stevens along with Captain Anderson made a record balloon ascent from the Stratobowl a natural depression near Rapid City South Dakota 6 There were 20 000 spectators while millions of people listened to a live NBC radio broadcast 7 Their sealed gondola Explorer II floated to 72 395 feet 22 066 m nearly 14 miles 23 km a world altitude record unequaled until 1946 and a balloon record unequaled until 1956 8 9 10 11 Stevens was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross one award for each of his two famous balloon flights He died on March 26 1949 in Redwood City California See also EditFlight altitude recordReferences Edit Laurence William L December 31 1930 Earth s Curve Seen in Photo from Plane Picture Shown to Scientists Has Rounding of Horizon 300 Miles Away The New York Times p 1 Popular Mechanics Aerial picture of mountain 200 miles away January 1930 p 96 Stevens Photographs Eclipse 5 Miles In Air Army Expert Says That Corona Sprang Into Sight as if Switch Was Snapped The New York Times September 1 1932 p 10 Retrieved December 30 2009 Flying at an altitude of five miles near the centre line of the eclipse zone the aerial unit of the National Geographic Society s eclipse expedition conducted by Captain Albert W Stevens and Lieutenant Charles D McAllister of the Army Air Corps had an unobstructed view of the eclipse throughout totality Space Men They were the first to brave the unknown Transcript American Experience PBS March 1 2016 Retrieved January 2 2019 Pictures Tell Story Of American s Stratosphere Flight Popular Science October 1934 Gondola Steamed 73 000 Feet In Air Captains Stevens and Anderson Arriving in Chicago Say They Were Mystified Stratosphere Balloonists With Capt Williams Ground Officer Will Reach Capital Today The New York Times November 13 1935 Retrieved May 26 2011 Captain Orvil A Anderson and Captain Albert W Stevens declared here today that they are willing to take another trip into the stratosphere at any time and are confident that on the next endeavor they will surpass their record fourteen mile ascent Lee Wells Jr 1935 First High Altitude Photo National Geographic Archived from the original on January 18 2010 Space Men Transcript American Experience PBS July 9 2019 Retrieved September 11 2019 Honored On Flight Into Stratosphere Captains Stevens and Anderson Receive Hubbard Medal of Geographic Society Notable Assembly in Washington Sees Photos Made 13 Miles Above the Earth The New York Times December 12 1935 p 29 Retrieved December 30 2009 The Hubbard Gold Medal of the National Geographic Society was presented by General Pershing tonight to Captain Albert W Stevens and Captain Orvil A Anderson of the Army Air Corps in recognition of their ascent into the stratosphere on Nov 11 when they reached an official altitude of 72 395 feet Record Balloon Flights The Race to the Stratosphere Archived 2006 03 09 at the Wayback Machine Goliath The first space race The Explorer II balloon flight of 1935 Sep 22 2006 External links EditThe Explorer I crew Major William Kepner Captain Albert Stevens and Captain Orvil Anderson on July 28 1934 Media related to Albert William Stevens at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Albert William Stevens amp oldid 1130151626, 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