Introduction

Abstract

This chapter simply and briefly sets the stage for man’s quest for extreme altitudes over a period of hundreds of years. It defines the altitudes related to the stratosphere and briefly chronicles the history of those who constantly pushed to go higher. It describes how, over time, technology enabled aircraft and balloons to achieve higher altitudes. It shows the clear influence of the military on designs that initially focused on speed and maneuverability, and only later on altitude. While this chapter highlights some altitude records, it points to the ensuing chapters that define the life threatening problems that confronted would-be “stratonauts.”