Come the eighth of October, 2012, the world
would be witnessing either of two things – the
setting of another world record in skydiving or…
something else that we do not want to talk
about. On that date, Felix Baumgartner, someone
who has been described simply as an Austrian
daredevil, plans to leap from nearly 23 miles
above the Earth.
According to space.com, “if all goes according to
plan, a helium-filled balloon will lift off from
Roswell, N.M., on Oct. 8 and carry Felix
Baumgartner’s custom-built capsule to an altitude
of 120,000 feet (36,576 meters). The daredevil will
then step out of the capsule into the void,
breaking a skydiving record that has stood for 52
years.” Before now, Baumgartner’s 2,900-pound
(1,315 kilograms) capsule was damaged in a hard
landing during a July 25 practice run from 97,146
feet (29,610 m), forcing a delay while repairs
were made. But on Monday (Sept. 24), officials
with Red Bull Stratos — the name of
Baumgartner’s mission — declared the capsule fit
for launch and set Oct. 8 as the target date for
the skydiver’s “space jump”.
The current record holder for the highest free
fall, for over 40 years now is Joe Kittinger. He
plunged into space from a high of 31km with
nothing but a primitive pressure suit and
parachute.
Talk about daring nature… One wonder how long
the free fall will take; what would Felix
Baumgartner spend that period of time doing?
Thinking? About what? Perhaps he should take a
book along!
Source: space.com
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Friday, September 28, 2012
Crazy: Man Set to Jump to Earth from Space on October 8
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