Editing Explorer II (section)

{{Short description|1935 American high-altitude balloon}}
{{hatnote group|
{{about|the high-altitude balloon mission|other uses|Explorer Two (disambiguation)}}
{{confused|Explorer 11}}
}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox
| bodyclass  = vcard
| titleclass = fn org
| title      = ''Explorer II''
| image      = [[File:Explorer II Gondola.jpg|240px]]
| caption    = ''Explorer II'' gondola on display at the [[National Air and Space Museum]]
| label2     = National origin
| data2      = United States
| label3     = Cost
| data3      = 
| label4     = Mass
| data4      = {{Convert|15,000|lb|kg|abbr=on|disp=flip}}<ref name="FWP2008"/>
| label5     = Balloon volume
| data5      = {{Convert|3,700,000|cuft|m3|abbr=on|disp=flip}}
| label6     = Crew
| data6      = 2
| label7     = Purpose
| data7      = Stratospheric flight
| label8     = Operator
| data8      = National Geographic Society<br>U.&nbsp;S. Army Air Corps
| label9     = First flight
| data9      = July 10, 1935
| label10    = Maximum altitude
| data10     = {{Convert|22,066|m|ft|abbr=on|lk=off}}
| label11    = Status
| data11     = Retired
}}
'''''Explorer II''''' was a crewed U.S. [[high-altitude balloon]] that was launched on November 11, 1935, and reached a record altitude of {{Convert|22,066|m|ft|abbr=on|lk=off}}. Launched at 8:00 am from the [[Stratobowl]] in [[South Dakota]], the helium balloon carried a two-man crew consisting of [[United States Army Air Corps|U.S. Army Air Corps]] Captains [[Albert W. Stevens]] and [[Orvil A. Anderson]] inside a sealed, spherical cabin. The crew landed safely near [[White Lake, South Dakota]], at 4:13 pm and both were acclaimed as national heroes. Scientific instruments carried on the gondola returned useful information about the [[stratosphere]]. The mission was funded by the membership of the [[National Geographic Society]].<ref name="AmExp">{{cite web |title=Space Men: They were the first to brave the unknown - Transcript |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/spacemen/#transcript  |website=American Experience |publisher=PBS |accessdate=2 January 2019 |date=1 March 2016}}</ref>