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Red Bull Stratos - Highest Skydive Record Attempt

A

Alexsutton

TS Member
I'd not heard anything about this until earlier today. Currently pending launch, Felix Baumgartner will ride a helium balloon to 120,000ft before jumping out and skydiving/spacediving to Earth, potentially breaking the sound barrier on the way.

Live streaming at www.redbullstratos.com/live

At time of posting, earliest launch time is 17:30 GMT.

EDIT: Weather has improved, currently the website says the broadcast will start at 18:00 BST
 
That's insane 120,000 ft I've done two from 10,000 ft that's something but that's some height
 
Well, it's not that straightforward. At the hight he will be jumping, the air will be so thin he'll break the sound barrier. As he gets lower and the air gets thicker, he will slow down. The terminal velocity of a human at low heights is about 114mph I think, but at the height he jumps from, he'll go way past it and then slow down again.
 
What Blaze said. Fingers crossed for Sunday, I think they've only got one more balloon left now (the balloons are so fragile that they have to be launched within a relatively short windown after being unpacked otherwise they are unuseable, so the balloon from yesterday can't be used again).
 
Nice one Liam! Hadn't realised :eek:

They look like the classic Mogul/Skyhook etc balloons! For those who don't know, they were doing experiments like this from Roswell decades ago, including in spinning capsules, but the Mogul/Skyhook etc balloons were high altitude balloons, sent with varying payloads from atmospheric research, to covert soviet surveillance!

There is also research suggesting that there were secret projects, involving doing things very similar such as skydiving from the edge of space, back in the 50s/60s, Joseph Kittinger for example in Project Excelsior!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Excelsior

Just as I am typing this, the guy on the feed is talking about it. Been researching these for years, it's fascinating!! AND I bet they were rather less Health and Safety conscious back then!

For this reason, I find this doubly fascinating :)
 
WOW Colonel Joe Kittinger is actually Capcom!!

What a legend, helping another man beat his incredible records too!

The views from that capsule are SPECTACULAR.

Very few people in life with Kahuna's big enough to do something like this.
 
QUICK UPDATE for those who cannot watch it....

Over 90k ft.

Difference in temp, 100 F, between external and internal temperature!

Then oddly, once you reach the coldest temp (at one point 90f BELOW outside) now at 92k feet, the outside air is warming again.

Having an issue with heat on face visor (to prevent, misting/icing etc). Troubleshooting at over 90k feet :eek:
 
Going through his pre-jump checklist and depressurizing the capsule as we speak, his jump is imminent. Very exciting :)
 
Massive congratulations! So much balls to do something like that, it's heroic! I'm in awe so much right now, a real superhuman!
 
Honestly one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. I know he must be used to it, but how you can just casually jump out at 127,000ft is just amazing.
 
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