Project Strato-Lab pilot Victor Prather, 1961. Lieutenant Commander Victor A. Prather (1926-1961) was a US Navy officer who together with Commander Malcolm Ross (1919-1985) set an altitude record for manned balloon flight of 34,668 metres, flying as part of Project Strato-Lab. They successfully tested the Navy Mark IV pressure suit (seen here) used in early spaceflights. Here, Prather is about to enter the balloon gondola on board the aircraft carrier USS Antietam (CV-36). The record-breaking launch took place on 4 May 1961 just after 7am, with the pilots experiencing extremely low temperatures and pressures. After a flight of nearly 10 hours, they landed in the Gulf of Mexico, opening their suit face plates as they descended. Incorrect procedures were followed during the helicopter recovery operation, and Prather fell from the hook being used to raise him and drowned as water entered his pressure suit.