David G. Simons


David G. Simons was an American physician turned U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel who, as part of Project Manhigh, set a record of high-altitude balloon flight in 1957 at 19 miles above the Earth in an aluminum capsule suspended from a helium balloon. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for this record. Simons was shown on the cover of Life of September 2, 1957, issue.

Career

At the time of Project Manhigh, then Major Simons was Chief, Space Biology Branch, Aero-Medical Laboratory, Holloman Air Development Center, Alamogordo, New Mexico.

In popular culture

"Manhigh" was the name of the 2013 season one finale of the Showtime TV series Masters of Sex, and featured television coverage of Major Simons' mission and return to Earth.