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Felix Baumgartner breaks sky diving speed & altitude records


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Posted

Daredevil skydiver Felix Baumgartner breaks records

14 October 2012

Austrian Felix Baumgartner has broken the record for the highest ever skydive by jumping out of a balloon 128,100ft (24.26 miles, 39km) above New Mexico.

The 43-year-old also became the first person to fall faster than the speed of sound, reaching a top speed of 833.9mph (1,342km/h) - Mach 1.24.

Video cameras relayed the moment Baumgartner stepped from his balloon capsule to begin the nine-minute fall to Earth.

4:20 freefall

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19943194

Posted

Definitely badass.

The final speed ended up being about 100 mph faster than predicted.

Funny thing I kept thinking about was that once that balloon took off, there was no turning back.

The only way back to earth then was to jump.

I remember as a kid getting scared on a carnival ride and they stopped to let me off.

No such thing in this case, lulz.

Posted

Yeah, I watched it live. Seemed like nothing more than a very expensive, over-elaborate commercial/publicity stunt for the energy-drink Red Bull to me...

Just get Sebastian Vettel to advertise it!

Nah, I'm kidding, it was great. Genuinely heart-stopping when he started to spin

Posted

FAQ's

So at what speed did his chute open? Seems like it would have ripped right off him going that fast.

Was the high speed due to being in a vacuum?

Posted

The best comment I heard was:

That's one giant leap for man, one small step for mankind."

They should move the Bonneville Salt Flats 23 miles up. :^)

Posted

I'm sure some other crazy fucker will try to better it. But why?

I think there was some testing going on with this jump, mainly the pressure suit he was wearing.

Posted

How does one return to a "normal" routine life after an experience like this? Would a hamburger taste better or worse than before? And how do friends & relatives relate to him now? I'm sure all famous people, especially the overnight sensations, have to deal with a new reality but this is such a unique, beyond epic situation. It blows my mind.

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