Record Free Fall

[UMP45]

Anyone watch the record breaking free fall? As an old paratrooper I cried! Amazing!! :HD:

[johnnyg08]

I will watch it on replay...simply amazing. I read that one of the risks was boiling his blood...is that true? I know nothing about jumping.

[UMP45]

Yes. Once you reach a certain altitude, if not properly protected, all of your body fluids will boil! :crybaby2:

[th3]

i did watch it. I had read a book probably 10 years ago called "the pre-astronauts", the earliest years of the space program and joe kittenger's jump was a big part of it - i was really facinated by it and have always told people about it..i knew the orginal jump had been postponed but i was surprised when i can in from my game today and my wife and daughter had it on..much better choice than the jets....i you should get the book at the library if you havent read it

[johnnyg08]

Yes. Once you reach a certain altitude, if not properly protected, all of your body fluids will boil!

Wow, that is intense. So, educate me, how amazing is this? For the purpose of discussion, (excuse ignorance) could any person do this assuming they had the proper tools?

[th3]

probably in the same way that anyone could climb everest if they had the proper tools

[johnnyg08]

probably in the same way that anyone could climb everest if they had the proper tools

I know a bit more about climbing...I don't think anybody could climb Everest....but I get your point.

[mstaylor]

Like climbing Everest, you have to have the right tools, but you also need physical stamina and training. This guy was trained by the last guy that set the record.

[Dannytheman]

I'm sorry, that guy has HUGE balls to take that first step. Falling at over 800 MPH? Are you kidding me. I would have needed an extra layer for the crap to go after I stepped off.

What a brave man, and also he left the other man one record to retain. Not sure if that was planned, but it could have been, since hepulled his shute a tad early.

[jmpnjmy]

I'm sorry, that guy has HUGE balls to take that first step. Falling at over 800 MPH? Are you kidding me. I would have needed an extra layer for the crap to go after I stepped

I think a pair of Depends would take care of that.

[Mudder]

2 things that puzzle me about the jump.......

Why was it not very cold at 128,000ft. Up to approx 70,000ft or so the temp was decreasing (very cold), and after that it started to climb to the point where it was not much colder than the ground temp would be a on a very cold day. We're always told space is extremely cold, not that this is space, but shouldn't it have been colder?

Also, he basically took off and landed in the same general area in New Mexico, Does he navigate the balloon to do that, to stay in the same general area?

[Jocko]

Dude gets the brass balls award. No way in the pit of Hades would I do thst. I have 86 jumps on my resume. Dude if a freaking monster.

[johnnyg08]

2 things that puzzle me about the jump.......

Why was it not very cold at 128,000ft. Up to approx 70,000ft or so the temp was decreasing (very cold), and after that it started to climb to the point where it was not much colder than the ground temp would be a on a very cold day. We're always told space is extremely cold, not that this is space, but shouldn't it have been colder?

Also, he basically took off and landed in the same general area in New Mexico, Does he navigate the balloon to do that, to stay in the same general area?

The Earth's atmosphere's temperature goes up and down as elevation increases, in fact, as we reach the edge of the Earth's atmosphere at about 100km, it gets very hot.

We know closer to Earth's surface, the temperature is cooler as you go up in altitude, proof of that is snow on mountain tops.

[grayhawk]

2 things that puzzle me about the jump.......

Why was it not very cold at 128,000ft. Up to approx 70,000ft or so the temp was decreasing (very cold), and after that it started to climb to the point where it was not much colder than the ground temp would be a on a very cold day. We're always told space is extremely cold, not that this is space, but shouldn't it have been colder?

Also, he basically took off and landed in the same general area in New Mexico, Does he navigate the balloon to do that, to stay in the same general area?

There's no navigation - the balloon is at the mercy of the winds. When he was going through the jet stream, his ground speed was pretty fast (80-100 mph if I recall correctly), and pushing him east. As he got to higher altitudes, he slowed considerably, but was heading back west. He landed about 23 miles east of his departure point at the Roswell airport..

[noumpere]

2 things that puzzle me about the jump.......

Why was it not very cold at 128,000ft. Up to approx 70,000ft or so the temp was decreasing (very cold), and after that it started to climb to the point where it was not much colder than the ground temp would be a on a very cold day. We're always told space is extremely cold, not that this is space, but shouldn't it have been colder?

Also, he basically took off and landed in the same general area in New Mexico, Does he navigate the balloon to do that, to stay in the same general area?

There's no navigation - the balloon is at the mercy of the winds. When he was going through the jet stream, his ground speed was pretty fast (80-100 mph if I recall correctly), and pushing him east. As he got to higher altitudes, he slowed considerably, but was heading back west. He landed about 23 miles east of his departure point at the Roswell airport..

Plus I would guess that the winds on the way down would push him back the way he came even though for a shorter period of time. Now if there would of been a wind shift or a front then he could of been farther off course.