Jean Piccard (1884-1963), Swiss-American chemical engineer, inventor and high-altitude balloonist. Piccard made his first balloon ascent with his identical twin brother Auguste Piccard in 1913. He went on to make a number of stratospheric flights, during which he undertook research on cosmic rays. In 1937 he made the first flight in a clustered high-altitude balloon of his own design. He also developed liquid oxygen systems and frost-resistant glass that were used in balloon gondolas and aircraft. He was also the first to use explosives to remotely release ballast. Photographed in 1932.