Red Bull Stratos Space Jump
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From: Crestview, FL
Red Bull Stratos Space Jump
Did anyone here watch it? Freaking awesome what humans can do sometimes. 24 miles up, got up to around 730 mph. Landed on his feet.
http://www.redbullstratos.com/live/
http://www.redbullstratos.com/live/
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From: Among javelinas and scorpions in Zoniestan
Why do you say that? Or are you including fatalities that happened during ejection from a supersonic aircraft?
Anyway, I watched the whole thing too. I found I was white-knuckled from the moment he sat out on the platform until his chute opened. It really bothered me that there seemed to be so much delay between Baumgartner's responses and Kittinger's challenges during the pre-jump checklist. It had all the appearance to me of hypoxia, and I saw no way to get him down safely (quickly enough) if that were the case. Then, did you all see him spinning partway through the freefall? It was such a relief to see him finally stabilize.
The whole technology of this is amazing. Imagine being lifted that high by a balloon made of plastic that is thinner than a zip-lock bag! How do you make such a thing and make it so big? I kept worrying that it would suddenly rip. Sure is easy to see why the winds had to be so calm at launch.
Anyway, I was glad for the BBC feed. I wasn't getting it through the Redbull sources.
- Jack
Anyway, I watched the whole thing too. I found I was white-knuckled from the moment he sat out on the platform until his chute opened. It really bothered me that there seemed to be so much delay between Baumgartner's responses and Kittinger's challenges during the pre-jump checklist. It had all the appearance to me of hypoxia, and I saw no way to get him down safely (quickly enough) if that were the case. Then, did you all see him spinning partway through the freefall? It was such a relief to see him finally stabilize.
The whole technology of this is amazing. Imagine being lifted that high by a balloon made of plastic that is thinner than a zip-lock bag! How do you make such a thing and make it so big? I kept worrying that it would suddenly rip. Sure is easy to see why the winds had to be so calm at launch.
Anyway, I was glad for the BBC feed. I wasn't getting it through the Redbull sources.
- Jack
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http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/o...8#.UHso-FGQmuI
Officials say that Felix Baumgartner has become the first skydiver to break the speed of sound.
At a news conference, Brian Utley of the International Federation of Sports Aviation said Baumgartner reached a maximum speed of 833.9 mph during his jump Sunday over the New Mexico desert.
That amounts to Mach 1.24, which is faster than the speed of sound. No one has ever reached that speed wearing only a high-tech suit.
Baumgartner says that traveling faster than sound is "hard to describe because you don't feel it." With no reference points, "you don't know how fast you travel."
Baumgartner came down safely in the eastern New Mexico desert about nine minutes after jumping from his capsule 128,100 feet, or roughly 24 miles, above Earth.
At a news conference, Brian Utley of the International Federation of Sports Aviation said Baumgartner reached a maximum speed of 833.9 mph during his jump Sunday over the New Mexico desert.
That amounts to Mach 1.24, which is faster than the speed of sound. No one has ever reached that speed wearing only a high-tech suit.
Baumgartner says that traveling faster than sound is "hard to describe because you don't feel it." With no reference points, "you don't know how fast you travel."
Baumgartner came down safely in the eastern New Mexico desert about nine minutes after jumping from his capsule 128,100 feet, or roughly 24 miles, above Earth.
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From: Crestview, FL
So neat to watch though. I am sure the Red Bull commercial will be all over the place by tomorrow.
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From: Among javelinas and scorpions in Zoniestan
Man I was so worried for a second there too. Kind of got tricked a little I think, they had his mic open and you could hear him breathing the whole time, then they cut the mic off and showed him spinning like crazy. My wife was like "That doesnt look good."
So neat to watch though. I am sure the Red Bull commercial will be all over the place by tomorrow.
So neat to watch though. I am sure the Red Bull commercial will be all over the place by tomorrow.
Guess I shouldn't be such a worry-wort.
- Jack
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From: Boston, Ma
I watched the whole thing myself. Pretty crazy!! I was reading up on specs and everything and it was pretty insane to find out that the thickness of the balloon was only .0008 inches thick! I wouldn't want that thing to tear. Also found out that the automatic chute deployment system that he used was $1700 alone! That must of been one hell of an expensive leap to earth!
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From: Mount Airy,MD
Getting conflicting stories. Some say Kittinger broke the sound barrier in 1960. Others don't. But since the Air force stated he did break the sound barrier, I think I will go with that.
http://www.balloonlife.com/publicati...0/balloonm.htm
http://www.af.mil/information/herita...&pid=123006518
http://www.balloonlife.com/publicati...0/balloonm.htm
http://www.af.mil/information/herita...&pid=123006518