Auguste Piccard
Auguste Piccard was a pioneering physicist and inventor known for his remarkable contributions to both atmospheric and oceanic exploration. Born into a scholarly family, he developed a keen interest in science early in life, particularly in ocean biology, which led him to pursue a degree in physics at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Piccard's innovative spirit was evident from his creation of a pressurized cabin that enabled high-altitude balloon flights, allowing him to study cosmic rays by reaching the stratosphere. His notable ascents took place in 1931 and 1932, where he achieved altitudes of over 51,000 and 61,000 feet, respectively.
In addition to his work in atmospheric research, Piccard also focused on deep-sea exploration, designing a bathyscaphe—a navigable submersible—after World War II. He made significant advancements in this area, including a historic dive to over 10,000 feet in 1953 with his son Jacques. Piccard's work not only advanced scientific knowledge but also inspired future generations of researchers in both aeronautics and marine science. He retired from academia in 1954 and passed away in 1962, leaving a lasting legacy in the fields of exploration and physics.
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Subject Terms
Auguste Piccard
Aeronautical Engineer
- Born: January 28, 1884
- Birthplace: Basel, Switzerland
- Died: March 24, 1962
- Place of death: Lausanne, Switzerland
Date: Born on January 28, 1884, in Basel, Switzerland; died on March 24, 1962, in Lausanne, Switzerland
Definition: Physicist noted for explorations in both the upper atmosphere and in the ocean.
Significance: Piccard pioneered the development of pressurized airtight compartments. His design became the basis for such structures in modern airplanes.
Auguste Piccard was among the most prominent members of a family devoted to scholarship. His father, Jules Piccard, was a professor of chemistry at the University of Basel. Auguste’s twin, Jean, earned a degree in chemistry and eventually held positions at several universities.
Piccard early developed a fascination for science. As a child, he was interested in the biology of the oceans; eventually this led him to design a ship to study ocean depths. Piccard enrolled in the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, studying physics. In 1904, he published his first scientific paper.
In 1910, Piccard was awarded a degree in mechanics from the institute, becoming a member of its faculty. He soon developed a gauge for measuring air pressure, and participated in his first balloon ride into the lower atmosphere. In 1914, he was awarded a doctorate by the institute.
Piccard’s research during this period dealt with the study of cosmic rays. His appointment as a professor of applied physics at the University of Brussels in 1922 provided him with the opportunity to combine his expertise in mechanics and engineering with such study. A major difficulty in the observation of cosmic rays was caused by their absorption by the atmosphere. Piccard reasoned that if one could travel into the upper reaches of the atmosphere, interference could be negated. The low atmospheric pressure at such heights, however, had proven fatal to those who had made such attempts. With funding provided by the Belgian government, Piccard designed a pressurized, airtight cabin in a balloon, which would allow penetration into the stratosphere.
On May 27, 1931, Piccard and his assistant Paul Kipfer reached an altitude of 51,762 feet. Unable to release enough hydrogen to land, Piccard and Kipfer waited until sundown, when the cooler temperature allowed the balloon to land on an Austrian glacier; altogether, they were in the air approximately seventeen hours. On August 18, 1932, Piccard and Max Cosyns made a second ascent into the stratosphere in a redesigned cabin, reaching a height of 61,221 feet.
In the late 1930’s, Piccard began the design of a bathyscaphe (a navigable submersible) that could be used to study the ocean depths. Interrupted by World War II, Piccard did not complete his design until 1948. In 1953, Piccard, accompanied by his son Jacques, made a dive to a depth of over 10,000 feet. Piccard retired from the University of Brussels in 1954, returning to Switzerland, where he died in 1962.
Bibliography
Field, Adelaide. Auguste Piccard: Captain of Space, Admiral of the Abyss. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1969. A juvenile biography of Piccard.
Honour, Alan. Ten Miles High, Two Miles Deep: The Adventures of the Piccards. New York: Whitlsey House, 1957. A biography relating the exploits of both Auguste and his brother Jean.
Piccard, Auguste. Between Earth and Sky. Translated by Claude Apcher. London: Falcon Press, 1950. Firsthand account of Piccard’s work and record-setting ascents. Written as a popular account for the layperson.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. In Balloon and Bathyscaphe. London: Cassell, 1956. A more detailed account of Piccard’s work and career.