October 15

Archibald Hoxsey (1884–1910) was one of the Wright brothers' star pilots and the first American to break the 11,000-foot altitude barrier. In 1910, he established a new world record by reaching over 11,474 feet in an aviation meet at Belmont Park. Hoxsey demonstrated aerial feats across the United States, captivating public interest in aviation's possibilities. His daring flights helped pave the way for modern aeronautical exploration and commercial flight. Tragically, Hoxsey died in a demonstration flight accident near St. Louis at the age of 25. His contributions are remembered as instrumental in advancing early aviation.

Born in 1919, Malcolm Ross combined his passions for physics and aviation to pioneer stratospheric balloon flights. As a Navy captain and later a physicist, he participated in Project Strato-Lab, reaching altitudes near 100,000 feet. Ross conducted experiments on cosmic rays and atmospheric studies, contributing valuable data to space science. His mission in 1959 aboard the Strato-Lab III balloon set a remarkable record for manned balloon ascents. Beyond exploration, he taught physics at several institutions, sharing his firsthand knowledge of high-altitude conditions. Ross's achievements paved the way for modern high-altitude and space research initiatives. He died in 1985, remembered as a daring explorer and dedicated scientist.

Roberto Vittori is an Italian Air Force colonel and European Space Agency astronaut who flew on three space missions to the Mir space station and the International Space Station. He first flew as a research cosmonaut aboard Soyuz TM-32 in 2001, becoming one of the first Italians in space. Vittori later served as a mission specialist on STS-134 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour in 2011. In his roles, he conducted scientific experiments and technology demonstrations in microgravity. Vittori's contributions have advanced international collaboration in human spaceflight.