Aviation Pioneer's Feat Recognized Five Decades Later

Joseph Kittinger's name may not be familiar to most, but the fearless daredevil helped pioneer the U.S. space program while setting multiple records in ballooning and parachuting, including a free-fall parachute jump from space, — 102,800 feet— that still stands. "We were the pioneer part of the space program. We were the pre-astronauts," said Kittinger, whom the National Air and Space Museum will recognize with its highest honor later today. The 79-year-old did more than take a giant step...Full Story