Albert William Stevens
Encyclopedia
Albert William Stevens was an officer
in the United States Army Air Corps
, balloonist
and aerial photographer
.
.
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. To cut through haze, Stevens often employed infrared sensitive film for long-distance aerial shots whose subjects were visually obscured.
Accompanied by Lt. 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.
On July 29, 1934 Steven and two other US Army officers, Major William Kepner and Captain Orvil Arson Anderson
, ascended in a specially constructed balloon and gondola named Explorer I over north-western Nebraska on an attempt on the record breaking attempt altitude flight. At approximately 5,000 feet disaster struck and the balloon envelop split sending the gondola falling to earth. In a feat that surprised many, all three were able to exit the gondola and parachute to earth before it struck a farm field.
On November 11, 1935 Stevens, along with Captain Orvil A. Anderson of the Army Air Corps, made a record balloon ascent from the Stratobowl
near Rapid City, South Dakota
. There were 20,000 spectators, while millions listened to a live NBC
broadcast. Their sealed gondola Explorer II climbed to 72,395 feet (22.065 km), nearly 14 miles, a record unequaled until 1956.
He died on March 26, 1949 in Redwood City, California
.
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, balloonist
Balloon (aircraft)
A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner....
and aerial photographer
Aerial photography
Aerial photography is the taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position. The term usually refers to images in which the camera is not supported by a ground-based structure. Cameras may be hand held or mounted, and photographs may be taken by a photographer, triggered remotely or...
.
Biography
He was born on March 13, 1886 in Belfast, MaineBelfast, Maine
Belfast is a city in Waldo County, Maine, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 6,668. Located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River on Penobscot Bay, Belfast is the county seat of Waldo County...
.
While flying over South America in 1930, Stevens took the first photograph of the Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
in a way that the horizon's curvature
Curvature
In mathematics, curvature refers to any of a number of loosely related concepts in different areas of geometry. Intuitively, curvature is the amount by which a geometric object deviates from being flat, or straight in the case of a line, but this is defined in different ways depending on the context...
is visible. To cut through haze, Stevens often employed infrared sensitive film for long-distance aerial shots whose subjects were visually obscured.
Accompanied by Lt. Charles D. McAllister of the Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, Stevens took the first photograph of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
's shadow projected onto the Earth during a solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
in August, 1932.
On July 29, 1934 Steven and two other US Army officers, Major William Kepner and Captain Orvil Arson Anderson
Orvil Arson Anderson
General Orvil Arson Anderson was a pioneer balloonist. In 1935 he and Albert William Stevens won the Mackay Trophy when they set a record of 72,395 feet in their balloon.-Biography:...
, ascended in a specially constructed balloon and gondola named Explorer I over north-western Nebraska on an attempt on the record breaking attempt altitude flight. At approximately 5,000 feet disaster struck and the balloon envelop split sending the gondola falling to earth. In a feat that surprised many, all three were able to exit the gondola and parachute to earth before it struck a farm field.
On November 11, 1935 Stevens, along with Captain Orvil A. Anderson of the Army Air Corps, made a record balloon ascent from the Stratobowl
Stratobowl
The Stratobowl is a compact natural depression within the limits of Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota, south-west of Rapid City. In 1934–1935 it housed a stratospheric balloon launch site, initially known as Stratocamp, sponsored by the National Geographic Society and the United States...
near Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
. There were 20,000 spectators, while millions listened to a live NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
broadcast. Their sealed gondola Explorer II climbed to 72,395 feet (22.065 km), nearly 14 miles, a record unequaled until 1956.
He died on March 26, 1949 in Redwood City, California
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
.