A man at 300,000 meters? (colour litho)

A man at 300,000 meters? According to rumors gathered in Moscow, the Russians, at the beginning of the year, would launch a rocket carrying a man on board into the ionosphere. At a height of three hundred kilometers, the pressurized capsule that served as the passenger compartment would be catapulted out of the missile and, held by parachutes, would begin the descent to Earth, happily achieved. The news, which started from Moscow, has not found, however, confirmation in official circles, although the company is made to appear by the technicians as perfectly possible. Illustration for Courier Sunday, 19 January 1958.