Tech | January 22, 2010 | 5 comments

Man to Break Sound Barrier Jumping from Edge of Space

source: http://gizmodo.com/5454895/man-to-break-sound-barrier-jumping-from-edge-of-space

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pjacobs51
This man—looking as badass as Ed Harris in The Right Stuff—is Felix Baumgartner. He actually has The Right Stuff: The cojones to reach the edge of space in a weather balloon. Up to 120,000 feet—and then jump.

Baumgartner will join United States Air Force Captain Joe Kittinger as the only man to jump from near space altitude. Kittinger jumped on August 16, 1960, from the Excelsior III balloon, which at the time was flying at 102,800 feet—that's 19.47 miles or 31 kilometer up in the sky. Compared to Baumgartner, however, Kittinger's suit looks miserable:

In fact, his right glove failed in the descent, and his hand dilated to twice its size. Absolutely crazy.

Hopefully, Baumgartner won't have any of Kittinger's problems. He will jump sometime in 2010, after a few test jumps at lower altitudes, as part of Red Bull's Stratus mission. Kittinger will be assisting Baumgartner from the ground control, while the mission team monitors his position and body state as he plummets down to Earth, surpassing the speed of sound.


http://gizmodo.com/5454895/man-to-break-sound-barrier-jumping-from-edge-of-space
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5 comments // Man to Break Sound Barrier Jumping from Edge of Space

  • Marcel_Le_Noir
    • 0
      Marcel_Le_Noir  

    • This is the right stuff.... This is just like the movie "On The Threshold Of Space" that experimented with high altitude testing near the edge of space with hot air and a metal ball that encapsulated a future pioneer. I hope Baumgartner who is doing this jump soon has a blast from the past, I can't wait to see this. Check out the movie if you have a chance (Circa 60's).

      Great Job!

    • 2 years ago
  • remanns
  • pjacobs51
  • remanns
    • 0
      remanns  

    • pfffffffft.........( not impressed till he does it with a bungee cord ) AAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh etc...... (30 minutes later) THWANG!!! (and back up again) I guess on the way up it would be ...hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAA.

      Seriously though,....that is insanely kewl and bad ass.

    • 2 years ago
  • pjacobs51
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