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Austrian Skydiver Prepared to Leap From Edge of Space

Posted by Unknown on from the sounds-like-fun-if-dying-were-fun dept.

Cutting_Crew writes "Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner will attempt a supersonic free fall on October 8th as the worlds highest skydive. According to the Christian Science Monitor 'The current record for world's highest skydive stands at 102,800 feet (31,333 m). It was set in 1960 by U.S. Air Force Captain Joe Kittinger, who serves as an adviser for Baumgartner's mission. If Baumgartner succeeds on Oct. 8, he will break not only that mark but also the sound barrier, becoming the first skydiver ever to fall at supersonic speeds, Red Bull Stratos officials said. During the July 25 jump, Baumgartner's top freefall speed was 537 mph (864 kph) — about as fast as a commercial airliner.' Let's hope that the weather on the 8th is as good as they hope for. It would be awesome to have a real time camera feed from his helmet."

12 of 97 comments (clear)

  1. My first thought was by MarkRose · · Score: 4, Funny

    That's one record that's sure to fall!

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    Be relentless!
    1. Re:My first thought was by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 5, Funny

      My first thought was: "Edge of space? I hope he doesn't cut his feet!"

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      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
    2. Re:My first thought was by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 4, Funny

      space has edges? oh, there's so much I don't know about astrophysics. why didn't I read that book by the wheelchair guy!

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      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    3. Re:My first thought was by Amouth · · Score: 3, Informative

      given the option i'd do it, same as a one way trip to mars

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      '...if only "Jumping to a Conclusion" was an event in the Olympics.'
  2. make a wish by Eddy_D · · Score: 5, Funny

    I see a bright future for this man.

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    - I stole your sig.
  3. Re:Dubious source by busyqth · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You went to the Christian Science Monitor to get the information on the current altitude record? You're going to get your statistics from the people who think dinosaurs and humans coexisted? Good luck with that.

    I don't think you know what Christian Science is.

  4. Re:Sonic Boom? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The air will be so thin when he's at that speed that the shock-wave will be negligible if not non-existant.

  5. Re:Dubious source by Eseell · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The CSM has only financial links to Christian Science, and generally has better science journalism than the mainstream media. That isn't a particularly high bar to clear, but don't let the name put you off.

  6. Re:I don't care for the EXTREME one-ups-manship by Alien+Being · · Score: 3, Funny

    0xDEADBEEF

  7. Sad, IP even touched this story by rolfwind · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What's sad is at the end of the story:

    Baumgartner and his team had originally hoped to attempt the record jump in 2010, but they were delayed by a legal challenge that claimed the idea of the dive was suggested to Red Bull by California promoter Daniel Hogan. That lawsuit has been settled out of court, and the mission is moving forward.

    God, we really built an entitlement society. People now think that a concept farts out of their brain, that it must be a) unique and b) theirs for all eternity. Now it seems the old adage of "Genius: one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration" should be changed to "Genius: one percent inspiration. Sue the suckers who put in the 99 percent perspiration."

  8. you'd have to jump REALLY hard by Immerman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It would be a cool way to commit suicide, I'll give you that.

    The ISS is 230 miles up and you'd fall most of the way in vacuum, gaining 2.6kJ/kg of kinetic energy - meaning you'd be going around mach 7 when you hit the atmosphere With a good enough wing suit you *might* be able to spend enough time decelerating in the far upper atmosphere to avoid incinerating on reentry.

    But to actually jump from the ISS you *start out* moving at 17,000mph(mach 22) - to reach the Earth you'd have to jump hard enough to neutralize enough of that velocity so that your new orbit intersected the atmosphere, but 200 miles is a fairly minor adjustment to a 4000-mile orbit, you might only need to shed a mach number or so, which you'd get back with interest as you fell. At that kind of speed you need to go to pretty extreme lengths to slow down - either a seriously large sturdy wing that can keep you in the far upper atmosphere shedding speed for a long time, or a serious heat shield. And I think either of those probably disqualify it from being considered a base jump.

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    --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
  9. Re:Dubious source by TheLink · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sounds to me like you're staying away from religion for religious reasons ;).

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