April 9, 2012 First step's a doozer.

SPUCK · 04-10-2012, 12:25 AM

One giant leap

Quote:

On Thursday, the adventurer leapt from a balloon-borne capsule 71,500ft (22km) above New Mexico, landing safely eight minutes later.

The dive was intended to test all his equipment before he tries to free-fall from 120,000ft later this year.

In doing so, he would better the mark of 102,800ft set by US Air Force Colonel Joe Kittinger in 1960.

Even just Thursday's jump puts Baumgartner in a select group as only Kittinger and Russian Eugene Andreev have descended from higher.

Baumgartner, who is famous for stunts such as jumping off the Petronas Towers, is seen in the special pressure suit he must wear to stay alive in the thin air and extreme cold of the stratosphere.

From: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17399985

Trilby · 04-10-2012, 07:04 AM

Hey! I can see my house!

Sundae · 04-10-2012, 08:24 AM

That genuinely took my breath away.
Terrifying.

sexobon · 04-10-2012, 10:00 AM

It looks like he just finished testing a prototype orbiting outhouse for NASA.

classicman · 04-10-2012, 11:37 AM

nuckin' futs!

infinite monkey · 04-10-2012, 12:21 PM

See, I could totally do that. It looks like fun. Safer than the interstate.

classicman · 04-10-2012, 12:46 PM

yeh sure, till that guy pulls outta the drop off cloud and ...

infinite monkey · 04-10-2012, 12:58 PM

*snortle*

That'd be my luck. "Oh look, i'm in space. I'm Rocket Woman...HEY ASSHOLE YOU ALMOST KILLED ME...grumble grumble, came outta no where!"

Gravdigr · 04-10-2012, 03:58 PM

One word.

Bird strike.

What?

onetrack · 04-11-2012, 10:12 AM

Now, I've heard that Red Bull gives you a high in exhilaration - but this is taking it to ridiculous heights!

Cyber Wolf · 04-11-2012, 04:08 PM

Okay, now I'm curious exactly where the whole atmospheric re-entry burn begins. I guess it's still higher than 46.5 miles up...? Or maybe you need to come in at a certain angle? I keep thinking this guy would land with a serious case of hot pants.

Happy Monkey · 04-11-2012, 04:40 PM

It's when you hit the atmosphere at an orbital speed, and use it to brake. A baloon isn't likely to be moving very fast relative to the atmosphere.

Aliantha · 04-11-2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

See, I could totally do that. It looks like fun. Safer than the interstate.

Yeah, no one's been killed (yet) from jumping from that high up!

glatt · 04-12-2012, 07:12 AM

And a follow up question. Is terminal velocity variable depending on altitude? Seems like the air is thinner up there, and wouldn't slow you down as much. I would expect the jumper to accelerate quickly up to some terminal velocity, and gradually slow down slightly as the air got thicker, and then finally slow down a lot when the chute is deployed.

Lamplighter · 04-12-2012, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

And a follow up question. Is terminal velocity variable depending on altitude? Seems like the air is thinner up there, and wouldn't slow you down as much. I would expect the jumper to accelerate quickly up to some terminal velocity, and gradually slow down slightly as the air got thicker, and then finally slow down a lot when the chute is deployed.

... and a whole lot more when he snags on the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks.

04-10-2012, 07:04 AM	#2
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Hey! I can see my house! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

04-10-2012, 08:24 AM	#3
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	That genuinely took my breath away. Terrifying. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

04-10-2012, 11:37 AM	#5
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	nuckin' futs! __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

04-10-2012, 12:46 PM	#7
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	yeh sure, till that guy pulls outta the drop off cloud and ... __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

04-10-2012, 03:58 PM	#9
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	One word. Bird strike. What? __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

04-10-2012, 10:00 AM	#4
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	It looks like he just finished testing a prototype orbiting outhouse for NASA.

04-10-2012, 12:21 PM	#6
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	See, I could totally do that. It looks like fun. Safer than the interstate.

04-10-2012, 12:58 PM	#8
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	snortle That'd be my luck. "Oh look, i'm in space. I'm Rocket Woman...HEY ASSHOLE YOU ALMOST KILLED ME...grumble grumble, came outta no where!"

04-11-2012, 10:12 AM	#10
onetrack Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Western Australia Posts: 99	Two words - Red Bull Now, I've heard that Red Bull gives you a high in exhilaration - but this is taking it to ridiculous heights! __________________ Illiterate??? - Not a problem! Write today for more information!! ....

04-11-2012, 04:08 PM	#11
Cyber Wolf As stable as a ring of PU-239 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: On a huge rock covered in water, highly advanced moss and 7 billion parasites Posts: 1,264	Okay, now I'm curious exactly where the whole atmospheric re-entry burn begins. I guess it's still higher than 46.5 miles up...? Or maybe you need to come in at a certain angle? I keep thinking this guy would land with a serious case of hot pants. __________________ "I don't see what's so triffic about creating people as people and then getting' upset 'cos they act like people." ~Adam Young, Good Omens "I don't see why it matters what is written. Not when it's about people. It can always be crossed out." ~Adam Young, Good Omens

04-11-2012, 04:40 PM	#12
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	It's when you hit the atmosphere at an orbital speed, and use it to brake. A baloon isn't likely to be moving very fast relative to the atmosphere. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

04-12-2012, 07:12 AM	#14
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	And a follow up question. Is terminal velocity variable depending on altitude? Seems like the air is thinner up there, and wouldn't slow you down as much. I would expect the jumper to accelerate quickly up to some terminal velocity, and gradually slow down slightly as the air got thicker, and then finally slow down a lot when the chute is deployed.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)