Touching Space: The Story of Project Manhigh, written by aerospace historian Gregory P. Kennedy and published by Schiffer Publishing in 2007 as part of its *Schiffer Military History Books* series, commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of Project Manhigh, the United States Air Force's pioneering manned balloon program that bridged the gap between high-altitude aviation and the dawn of human spaceflight. Kennedy, former director of the International Space Hall of Fame in Alamogordo, New Mexico, presents a comprehensive historical study of the program while arguing that the work conducted by the Aeromedical Field Laboratory at Holloman Air Force Base constituted one of the most important yet overlooked foundations of America's future manned space program. Richly illustrated with numerous previously unpublished photographs, the 128-page volume combines historical narrative with technical explanation, making it accessible to general readers without sacrificing depth or accuracy.

Rather than beginning directly with Project Manhigh, Kennedy places the program within the broader history of human ascent into the atmosphere. The opening chapters trace ballooning from the Montgolfier brothers' first flights in 1783 through the achievements of pioneers such as Jacques Charles, Pilâtre de Rozier, Jean-Pierre Blanchard, John Jeffries, Henry Coxwell, James Glaisher and Emilio Herrera. These early ascents introduced scientists to the physiological dangers of the upper atmosphere, including hypoxia, decompression and extreme cold. The narrative then follows the scientific exploration of the stratosphere through Victor Hess's balloon flights that led to the discovery of cosmic rays and culminates with the celebrated expeditions of Auguste and Jean Piccard in Europe and North America, together with the Explorer ascents from the Stratobowl during the 1930s. This historical overview provides the essential context for understanding why balloon research became a critical precursor to the space age.

Kennedy next examines the technological revolution that began in 1947 with the introduction of polyethylene zero-pressure balloons, which replaced traditional rubberized fabric and made sustained operations in the stratosphere practical. These chapters explore the development of postwar American balloon research through programs such as Gopher and the Navy's Project Skyhook, as well as the first balloon-borne biological experiments using animals to investigate the effects of extreme altitude. These investigations demonstrated that humans might safely survive at space-equivalent altitudes inside pressurized capsules, naturally leading to the conception of Project Manhigh. Kennedy also emphasizes the contributions of Colonel John Paul Stapp, whose aeromedical research defined the limits of human tolerance to extreme acceleration and environmental stress, and of Otto Winzen, whose company pioneered the manufacture of the large plastic balloons that made the program technically feasible.

The central portion of the book is devoted to the conception, engineering and execution of the three Manhigh flights. Kennedy describes in considerable detail the development of the pressurized aluminum capsule, equipped with a carefully controlled oxygen-helium-nitrogen atmosphere, environmental controls, communications systems and scientific instrumentation designed to support prolonged operations in near-space conditions.

The first operational mission, Manhigh I, launched on 2 June 1957 with Captain Joseph Kittinger as pilot, is reconstructed almost minute by minute. Kennedy describes not only the successful ascent to 95,200 feet but also the serious equipment failures encountered during the flight, including an oxygen regulator malfunction and the loss of voice communications, demonstrating both the fragility of the technology and the remarkable composure of its pilot.

Even greater attention is devoted to Manhigh II, flown by Dr. David Simons in August 1957. Lasting more than thirty-two hours and reaching 102,000 feet, the mission represented the first true scientific expedition to the edge of space. Kennedy recounts Simons's extensive meteorological observations, including thunderstorms and the aurora borealis viewed from above 99 percent of Earth's atmosphere, while also documenting the physiological and operational difficulties encountered during the flight. Excessive heat within the capsule, increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and growing concerns over the pilot's condition eventually required ground controllers to assume greater authority over mission decisions, illustrating the complexities of maintaining human life during extended high-altitude missions.

The final mission, Manhigh III, launched in October 1958 with Lieutenant Clifton McClure, receives equally detailed treatment. Although achieving an altitude of 99,700 feet, the flight was marked by failures in the environmental control system that raised internal capsule temperatures to approximately 108.5°F. Kennedy uses technical reports, flight transcripts and medical records to reconstruct the events with precision, showing how the experience gained during all three missions directly influenced later developments in life-support systems, environmental control, operational procedures and astronaut training for NASA's Project Mercury.

The concluding chapters extend beyond Manhigh itself by examining the balloon projects that followed, the reasons for the program's cancellation and the transition from balloon-based exploration to orbital spacecraft. Kennedy argues that changing political priorities, the rapid development of missile technology and the emergence of NASA shifted national attention toward rocket-based spaceflight despite the substantial scientific and engineering successes achieved by the balloon program. Three appendices further expand the discussion with additional technical information and summaries of related American balloon projects conducted alongside Manhigh.

One of the book's principal strengths lies in its documentation. Kennedy draws extensively upon official Air Force records, technical flight reports, medical studies and archival material to reconstruct both the engineering and human dimensions of the program. The numerous previously unpublished photographs significantly enhance the narrative by illustrating equipment, launch operations, personnel and flight hardware rarely reproduced elsewhere. Equally valuable is the balance between technical detail and readability. Complex subjects (including balloon construction, capsule engineering, life-support systems and physiological research) are explained clearly enough for non-specialists while providing sufficient detail to satisfy readers interested in the history of aerospace technology.

Perhaps the book's greatest achievement is its restoration of Project Manhigh to its proper historical significance. Rather than portraying the program merely as an isolated balloon experiment, Kennedy convincingly demonstrates that it served as an indispensable bridge between postwar aeromedical research and the first American orbital missions. The psychological challenges of prolonged isolation, the operation of closed environmental systems, high-altitude navigation and human performance under near-space conditions were all investigated years before the first astronauts entered orbit. Throughout the narrative, Kennedy emphasizes not only the technological accomplishments but also the determination of the scientists, engineers, physicians, meteorologists and pilots whose work made these achievements possible, often under conditions involving considerable personal and professional risk.

As both a historical study and a technical account, the book succeeds in documenting one of the least appreciated chapters in the history of American space exploration. It demonstrates that the road to Mercury, Gemini and Apollo was shaped not only by rockets but also by the quiet achievements of the Manhigh balloon program, whose contributions to high-altitude medicine, life-support technology and human spaceflight deserve far greater recognition than they have traditionally received.