Piccard, Jean Felix

Piccard, Jean Felix (1884–1963) aeronautical engineer, organic chemist; born in Basel, Switzerland (twin brother of Auguste Piccard). Emigrating to America to teach chemistry at the University of Chicago (1916), he later joined the University of Minnesota's Department of Aeronautical Engineering (1936–52) where he was best known for his research with high-altitude balloons. He wrote over 70 papers, translated Einstein's Physics and Reality into English (1936), and helped develop astronauts' pressurized suits for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.