He was the first man in space—free falling to the earth, traveling without a vehicle, breaking the sound barrier, wearing only a space suit, carrying a film camera. On August 16, 1960, he ascended to 19 miles above the earth in a space age helium balloon called the Excelsior III gondola, and then he jumped. For a man who fell to earth, David Bowie ain’t got nothin on Joseph Kittinger.