Project Excelsior. Historical image of the Excelsior III gondola beginning its ascent on 16th August 1960. Project Excelsior was a series of three high-altitude parachute jumps made by US Air Force (USAF) captain Joseph William Kittinger II (born 1928). This third descent was from a record-breaking height of just over 31 kilometres. As well as the highest balloon ascent, this was the longest free-fall (over four minutes) and fastest speed (nearly 1000 kilometres per hour). The descent over New Mexico, USA, took 13 minutes, with a pressure suit worn due to the low temperatures and pressures.