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Computer Scientist Parachutes From 135,908 Feet, Breaking Record

Posted by Soulskill on from the touching-space dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The NY Times reports that Alan Eustace, a computer scientist and senior VP at Google, has successfully broken the record for highest freefall jump, set by Felix Baumgartner in 2012. "For a little over two hours, the balloon ascended at speeds up to 1,600 feet per minute to an altitude of 135,908 feet, more than 25 miles. Mr. Eustace dangled underneath in a specially designed spacesuit with an elaborate life-support system. He returned to earth just 15 minutes after starting his fall. ... Mr. Eustace cut himself loose from the balloon with the aid of a small explosive device and plummeted toward the earth at a speeds that peaked at more than 800 miles per hour, setting off a small sonic boom heard by observers on the ground. ... His technical team had designed a carbon-fiber attachment that kept him from becoming entangled in the main parachute before it opened. About four-and-a-half minutes into his flight, he opened the main parachute and glided to a landing 70 miles from the launch site."

2 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Baumgartner took too much credit by Ancil · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I like this new one, seems to have been done for the right reasons.

    What exactly are "the right reasons"?

    I'm being serious. Is there some sort of "right" or "noble" reason to spend all this money jumping from slightly higher than the last guy who spent a lot of money?

    Am I missing something here? Off the top of my head, the only reasons which come to mind are "extreme wealth" and "boredom".

  2. Re:I don't get the joke. by tqk · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I'm with the parent. I've read the Wikipedia page, and your link to his /. submissions, and I'm not seeing why such vitriol is being flung (in multiple stories) about him. What, is he a faggot/fairy/LGBTt (???) or something and that offends you, or you're a spammer, a paedo, or you think Burning Man is Emo; or what?

    FWIW, I'm with him on what I've read about his views on obscenity and nudity. How nakedness can be percieved as disorderly conduct escapes me. Sure, lots of people are fat slobs so I don't want to see them naked, but how's it obscene? Not understanding the hate here.

    I'm an anti-Microsoft bigot (bite me), and I wouldn't hold even that against him. He took their money!

    W.T.F?

    --
    "Tongue tied and twisted, just an Earth bound misfit ..." -- Pink Floyd.