Posted on 10/14/2012 11:53:51 AM PDT by drewh
Extreme athlete Felix Baumgartner has jumped from a balloon 24 miles above Earth in a death-defying free fall that could make him the world's first supersonic skydiver.
After his parachute deployed he landed safely on the New Mexico desert about 10 minutes later.
He set records for the highest free-fall and the fastest free-fall ever.
Baumgartner climbed into the stratosphere in a pressurized capsule carried by a helium balloon Sunday and then jumped into a near vacuum at about 128,000 feet, or more than 24 miles, high.
Coincidentally, Baumgartner's attempted feat also marked the 65th anniversary of U.S. test pilot Chuck Yeager successful attempt to become the first man to officially break the sound barrier aboard an airplane.
At Baumgartner's insistence, some 30 cameras recorded the event. While it had been pegged as a live broadcast, it was actually under a 20-second delay.
Meteorologist: Supersonic skydive "a go" on Sunday Skydiver's supersonic jump on hold due to winds Felix Baumgartner set for jump from edge of space
Shortly after launch, screens at mission control showed the capsule as it rose above 10,000 feet, high above the New Mexico desert as cheers erupted from organizers. Baumgartner could be seen on video checking instruments inside the capsule.
Baumgartner's team included Joe Kittinger, the man who first attempted to break the sound barrier from 19.5 miles in 1960. With Kittinger inside mission control Sunday, the two men could be heard going over technical details as the launch began.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
The capsule was released from the balloon after which a parachute deployed for it’s descent. I’m not sure what the fate of the balloon is, I believe it opens on top releasing the helium.
It's not the end of the world, but you start seeing signs for that exit around Alamogordo.
I spent the longest century of my life in that area, over 3 years. ;)
/johnny
This was an American enterprise. The jumper (faller?) night have been from an other country but this was an American engineered event. Way to go!
... and Ka-CHING!
Red Bull Stratos - Felix Baumgartners Jump from 39.000 Metres! 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhDl_SO4YMU&feature=plcp
The capsule chutes down on its own.
The balloon no doubt flies itself somewhere downwind, that would be a catch.
capsule recovered (had it’s own chute)
They will continue to rise and expand in ever thinner air until, at some point, the balloon material will spring a leak (or rupture).
If a leak, the balloon and the capsule will eventually drift back to earth. If a rupture, the capsule will itself enter free-fall to a violent landing.
I drove through that area many years ago at night on a two lane road, after revisiting the Grand canyon and on my way to Carlsbad Cavern. It was an interesting night time drive to say the least!
Where Muslims involved in anyway????/s
That jump was, without a doubt, the scariest thing I have ever seen.
A friend and I watched it on TV and had the Internet Youtube feed going through the project webpage. It was edge-of-your-seat gripping.
In reading the headline my first thought was: Ok, he successfully jumped. Did he successfully land?
I know-all wrong, but that is how the mind works at times
He wasn’t worried about the height, just the sudden stop...
Bigger balls than I have, for sure..........
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