Skydiving, BASE jumping, zipling, paragliding: there are so many adventurous options out there to get your heart pumping, but the sky is not the limit for some adrenaline junkies. As reported by the Space Exploration Network, an Austrian pilot and daredevil, Felix Baumgartner, wants to perform the ultimate skydive: a jump from the edge of the space.
Space diving isn't quite like how you may have pictured it to be from watching Star Trek or Starship Troopers. Unlike films, in the real world it comes with a lot of technical challenges.
Baumgartner and his team are going to spend the next few months preparing for this legendary jump. Baumgartner will jump from a height out 36 kilometres, just outside the stratosphere. He is expected to break the sound barrier 35 seconds after leaving the balloon. The free fall will last about 10 minutes and he will plummet back to Earth at a speed of over a 1,000 kilometers per hour. He will be wearing a pressurized suit that will supply him with oxygen and shelter him from the -60 C temperatures.
If successful, this jump will break four world records that have been unchallenged since 1960, when US air force Captain Joseph Kittinger jumped from his balloon, Excelsior III, from a height of 31,330 m. His free fall currently holds the records for the highest altitude freefall, the highest manned balloon flight, the longest distance travelled in free fall and the speed record for the fastest free fall.
If someone is going to challenge Captain Kittinger's admirable adventure, they need to be prepared for the danger, as well as the excitement of it.
Baumgartner is no stranger to the sport of freefalling. In 2003, he become to first person to skydive across the English channel. Before his planned epic 'space' dive, he will also perform test jumps from 18,000 m and 27,000 m.
Baumgartner is hopeful that his stunt will pave a path for a new era of extreme sports and space tourism. But, other than this daredevil, how many people are actually willing to jump off from the edge of space?
Cast your vote, then share your thoughts in the comments section below.
The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
it is good article,i very like to read it. www.cheapbuyairjordan.com
Posted by: Buy Air Jordans | 05/25/2012 at 04:23 AM
it is good article,i very like to read it.www.cheapbuyairjordan.com
Posted by: Buy Air Jordans | 05/25/2012 at 04:22 AM
Not real so far even among the stars....
Posted by: NetFlim | 03/16/2012 at 07:01 PM
I've been skydiving before...this would be amazing, but only if it was really safe.
Posted by: Sally | 03/16/2012 at 06:39 PM
What will happen to his screams when he breaks the sound barrier :-)
Posted by: moses | 03/16/2012 at 05:53 PM
You had some nice points here. I done a research on the topic and got most peoples will agree with you
Posted by: pandora jewelry | 03/13/2012 at 04:14 AM
Cast your vote, then share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Posted by: superdry uk | 02/15/2012 at 01:45 AM