On August 16, 1960, a helium ballon, The Excelsior III climbed to 102,800 feet (19.5 miles or 31,333 meters) over New Mexico, and Joe Kittinger leaped out.
On his descent, Kittinger freefell at speeds up to 614 miles per hour, approaching the speed of sound without the protection of an aircraft or space vehicle and experiencing temperatures as low as minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 70 degrees Celsius). He was in freefall for 4.5 minutes before he opened his parachute at 18,000 feet.
Those handy with a calculator will note he travelled an average of 214.13 mph as he fell through the (lack of) Earth's atmosphere.
Sometime this year (2010), Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian skydiver and stuntman, with help from Joe Kittinger, will attempt a freefall from 120,000 feet (more than 22.7 miles) as part of Red Bull's Stratos program.
He aims to break four world records:
1) Speed record as the first human to break the speed of sound in free fall.
2) Attitude record for free fall (120,000 feet)
3) Time record for the longest free fall (approximately five to six minutes, landing about 13 minutes after pulling the rip cord)
4) Attitude record for highest manned ballon flight (120,000 feet)
Joe Kittinger's records have lasted nearly 50 years so far. His record is very safe as far as me breaking it. :)
19 comments:
That is just insane!!!
Yep, insane...that's a good word. What is he thinking!?!?!?
I like the banner..that's new today, right? Or did I just not see it before?
Crazy!!!!!!!!!! Ohmygosh! I have jumped out of a plane before, with a static line. This is just nutz!!!
People are insane. I'm deathly afraid of falling and hate that free fall sinking feeling you get in your heart, so I won't be attempting such craziness anytime soon!
The ultimate adrenaline rush!
I jumped out of a plane. It was not record breaking. My back-humping-buddy or whatever you call him screamed at me the entire way down because my back wasn't arched right. I got to the ground and threw up all over him.
I think I'll stick to turning in circles for my kicks.
wow!! I have to agree with you, Iggy, his record is safe for me too. Why would I want to even consider jumping out of a plane? I don't even like getting on them in the first place :)
very interesting though and I am glad there are people who are adventurous like this :)
enjoy the day
betty
I had to go back and re-read those statistics--twice! OMG!! I agree--that is insane. And I can't believe that he didn't do some kind of damage to himself in the process?
I am afraid of heights in the first place. So much so that I wouldn't even want to be on the ground watching this crazy person. I hope he will be okay. If you hear what happens--please let us know!!
Human beings are just amazing as to what they can think up to try. :)
Yep, I think that's insane, too. If Felix Baumgartner does indeed try to break those records, I hope he at least makes it back to earth safely. (he's nuts)
I have always wanted to skydive, but after reading JenJen's comment I am not so sure!
If it happens one day, I can assure you I will NOT be freefalling for any longer than necessary!
Oh My!! I want to try skydiving...Kiling Moon sky dives but I have yet to get the brass ones to join him.
You get major cool points for this post.
=)
Oh my. His record is safe with me too! I get the shivers just thinking about it!
Well I wish the best for felix and I am so glad it is him and not me, that makes my tummy queezy just thinking about it lol
only way I'm jumping out of a plane is if someones boot is kicking my ass out..
Well, God bless their souls. And their crazy minds.
It's safe as far as me breaking it too. I have no problem what so ever being up in aeroplanes, hot hair baloons, or whatever. But I have a fear of grounds, so you wont catch me jumping out of something at any height.
*Sneaks in and removes the extra h in there, hoping nobody noticed*
Erm... That would be "hot air baloons" by the way. ;)
he freefalled (freefell?) for FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES? that is absolutely insane. i always wanted to go skydiving, but recently realized that i would probably pee my pants if i tried.
I heard that on the news yesterday. he's crazy. just crazy
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