Births on January 28

Auguste Piccard, Swiss physicist and explorer (d. 1962)

Auguste Piccard: Pioneer of the Stratosphere and the Deep Sea

Auguste Antoine Piccard (28 January 1884 – 24 March 1962) was a distinguished Swiss physicist, prolific inventor, and intrepid explorer whose groundbreaking work significantly expanded humanity's understanding of both Earth's upper atmosphere and its deepest oceans. Renowned for his extraordinary courage and scientific ingenuity, Piccard's contributions were pivotal in the fields of aerostatics and oceanography, laying foundational groundwork for future exploration.

Record-Breaking Stratospheric Expeditions

Piccard first gained international acclaim for his pioneering and record-setting hydrogen balloon flights into the stratosphere. Driven by a keen scientific curiosity, his primary objective was to study cosmic rays and the composition of the Earth's upper atmosphere. To achieve this unprecedented feat, he designed and constructed a revolutionary spherical, pressurized aluminum gondola, an innovation essential for human survival at extreme altitudes where atmospheric pressure is perilously low.

• First Ascent to the Stratosphere: On May 27, 1931, accompanied by Paul Kipfer, Piccard ascended to an astonishing altitude of 15,781 meters (51,775 feet), becoming the first humans to personally observe the curvature of the Earth and the thinness of its atmosphere from such a vantage point.
• Further Altitude Records: He continued to push boundaries, achieving an even higher record of 16,940 meters (55,577 feet) on August 18, 1932. These flights provided invaluable data on cosmic radiation, atmospheric pressure, and temperature gradients in the stratosphere, contributing immensely to early space research and meteorology.

Innovator of Deep-Sea Exploration: The Bathyscaphe

Not content with conquering the vertical frontier of the atmosphere, Piccard then turned his inventive genius towards the unexplored depths of the ocean. Recognizing the limitations of existing deep-diving apparatus like bathyspheres, which were tethered to surface vessels, he conceived and developed the first untethered, self-propelled deep-sea submersible, which he named the "bathyscaphe" (from Greek "bathys" meaning deep and "skaphe" meaning boat).

• The FNRS-2: His pioneering design, the FNRS-2, utilized a unique principle for buoyancy: a large float filled with highly buoyant aviation gasoline (which is less compressible than water) and a pressure-resistant steel sphere, or cabin, for the occupants, attached beneath. The craft achieved descent by releasing gasoline and ascended by jettisoning iron ballast shot.
• Early Unmanned Dives: In 1948, under Piccard's direction and oversight, the FNRS-2 successfully made a number of unmanned test dives off the Cape Verde Islands, demonstrating the viability of the bathyscaphe concept for deep-ocean exploration. While Auguste Piccard himself did not descend in FNRS-2 for these specific dives, his visionary design and supervision paved the way for future manned expeditions into the abyss.

A Legacy of Exploration: The Piccard Family

The spirit of scientific inquiry and daring exploration was a hallmark of the Piccard family, creating a remarkable dynasty of adventurers and innovators across generations.

• Jean Felix Piccard (1884–1963): Auguste's twin brother, Jean Felix, was also a notable physicist and high-altitude balloonist. He pursued similar research in the United States, innovating with plastic balloons and making significant contributions to stratospheric flight, including the first manned flight using a plastic balloon in 1937.
• Jacques Piccard (1922–2008): Auguste's son, Jacques, became an equally celebrated oceanographer and engineer. He continued his father's work on bathyscaphes, most famously co-piloting the Trieste (a successor to FNRS-2) with Don Walsh in 1960 to the Mariana Trench, achieving the deepest manned dive in history to a staggering 10,911 meters (35,797 feet) in the Challenger Deep.
• Bertrand Piccard (b. 1958): Jacques' son, Bertrand, is a psychiatrist and adventurer who has continued the family's aerial legacy. He achieved the first non-stop circumnavigation of the Earth by balloon in the Breitling Orbiter 3 in 1999 and, more recently, co-piloted the Solar Impulse 2, the first solar-powered aircraft to complete a circumnavigation of the globe without fuel in 2016.
• Jeannette Piccard (1895–1981): Jean Felix's wife, Jeannette, was also a pioneer in her own right, becoming the first woman to pilot a stratospheric balloon flight in 1934.
• Don Piccard (1926–2020): Jean Felix's son, Don, was a prominent figure in the development of modern hot air ballooning in the United States.

The Piccard family's sustained dedication to pushing the boundaries of human reach, from the highest skies to the deepest seas, exemplifies a profound commitment to scientific discovery and the enduring human quest for exploration.

Frequently Asked Questions About Auguste Piccard and His Expeditions

What was Auguste Piccard famous for?

Auguste Piccard was primarily famous for his pioneering record-breaking hydrogen balloon flights into the stratosphere, which allowed him to study cosmic rays, and for inventing the bathyscaphe, a revolutionary deep-sea submersible for exploring the ocean's depths.

What was the purpose of Auguste Piccard's balloon flights?

The main purpose of his stratospheric balloon flights was to conduct scientific research, particularly to study cosmic rays and gain a better understanding of the Earth's upper atmosphere, including temperature, pressure, and atmospheric composition.

What is a bathyscaphe, and how did Auguste Piccard contribute to its development?

A bathyscaphe is a self-propelled, untethered deep-sea submersible designed for extreme depth exploration. Auguste Piccard invented the concept of the bathyscaphe, designing the first one, the FNRS-2, which used a buoyant gasoline-filled float and a separate pressure sphere for the crew. His innovative design allowed for independent deep-sea dives, revolutionizing oceanography.

How did Auguste Piccard's work influence future exploration?

His stratospheric balloon flights laid critical groundwork for high-altitude flight, aerospace engineering, and atmospheric science. His invention of the bathyscaphe opened up the previously inaccessible deep ocean to human exploration, directly leading to historic manned dives like that of the Trieste into the Mariana Trench, which was piloted by his son Jacques Piccard.

Are other members of the Piccard family also known for exploration?

Yes, the Piccard family has a remarkable legacy of exploration. His twin brother Jean Felix Piccard was a noted stratospheric balloonist; his son Jacques Piccard achieved the deepest manned ocean dive; and his grandson Bertrand Piccard completed the first non-stop balloon circumnavigation and the first solar-powered plane circumnavigation, among other feats. Many other relatives have also contributed to aviation and exploration.