Skydiver aims to break sound barrier in free fall

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by newconroer

Kittinger's jump was better - the lack of technology alone is what makes it ballsy.

I think both were pretty ballsy, but you're right, his jump was on a wing and a prayer, 52 years ago! This kind of puts it into perspective:

On August 16, 1960, he made the final jump, from the Excelsior III, at 102,800 feet (31,300 m).[2] Towing a small drogue parachute for initial stabilization, he fell for 4 minutes and 36 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 614 miles per hour (988 km/h)[4][5] before opening his parachute at 18,000 feet (5,500 m). Pressurization for his right glove malfunctioned during the ascent, and his right hand swelled to twice its normal size.[6][7] Ignoring the pain, he rode the balloon up to 102,800 feet and said a short prayer — “Lord, take care of me now” — before stepping off.[8]

Sunday they would have called it off had anything remotely like that happened.

Funny, looks like a Craftsman toolbox strapped to his ass in this picture

[3870x2]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

I think both were pretty ballsy, but you're right, his jump was on a wing and a prayer, 52 years ago! This kind of puts it into perspective:



Sunday they would have called it off had anything remotely like that happened.

Funny, looks like a Craftsman toolbox strapped to his ass in this picture

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...inger-jump.jpg

That was a craftsman toolbox

Source

[Irony]

Originally Posted by Drone

Many discoveries in science and technology were achieved due to ... wars. Everybody thinks that wars are bad, and wars are bad, but many times wars played role of gears of science. Some philosophers say that without wars humanity will cease to exist. It's quite a controversial thing but not meaningless. However it's sad that governments spend more money on militay crap while there's a lot of other things that need money. Ok I digress ...

Sad as it is, it's true. Just look at airplane technology from before WW1 to after WW2. They went from dropping hand grenades from planes made from balsa and canvas to dropping nuclear weapons from 36 piston engined bombers, not to mention germany had jet fighters and rocket planes. War is frickin expensive though; not to mention loss of life

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by Drone

Many discoveries in science and technology were achieved due to ... wars. Everybody thinks that wars are bad, and wars are bad, but many times wars played role of gears of science. Some philosophers say that without wars humanity will cease to exist. It's quite a controversial thing but not meaningless. However it's sad that governments spend more money on militay crap while there's a lot of other things that need money. Ok I digress ...

Its funny you say that, the US is working on a power system for its aircraft carriers that runs off of salt water. They said they will have the first prototype IN SERVICE by 2020.

[Benetanegia]

It's not wars. It's motivation. Either motivation to solve a problem or motivation for funding it, i.e. governments pouring embarrashingly big loads of money into it. Now the sad part and the thing that humanity should figure out, is: why is human being more motivated to destroy other humans than it is about nearly any other thing.

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by Benetanegia

It's not wars. It's motivation. Either motivation to solve a problem or motivation for funding it, i.e. governments pouring embarrashingly big loads of money into it. Now the sad part and the thing that humanity should figure out, is: why is human being more motivated to destroy other humans than it is about nearly any other thing.

Simple. The lulz.

[Drone]

Originally Posted by Irony

Sad as it is, it's true. Just look at airplane technology from before WW1 to after WW2. They went from dropping hand grenades from planes made from balsa and canvas to dropping nuclear weapons from 36 piston engined bombers, not to mention germany had jet fighters and rocket planes. War is frickin expensive though; not to mention loss of life

WW2 started the age of computers. First computers were used for artillery and ballistics because it's all about maths and algorithms. Computers were also important to encrypt and decipher messages.

Computers, satellites and stuff are all came from the need of war and surveillance. Of course it's not necessity but it's not a coincidence either. I don't say that technology is a machine of war

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by Drone

WW2 started the age of computers. First computers were used for artillery and ballistics because it's all about maths and algorithms. Computers were also important to encrypt and decipher messages.

Computers, satellites and stuff are all came from the need of war and surveillance. Of course it's not necessity but it's not a coincidence either. I don't say that technology is a machine of war

Also nukes.

[3870x2]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

Simple. The lulz.

Or those in power are ready to sacrifice their people to make sure that they maintain power.

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by 3870x2

Or those in power are ready to sacrifice their people to make sure that they maintain power.

And lulz. Always lulz to be had with weapons. Remember the Iraq invasion? People treated it like the super bowl.

[Drone]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

Also nukes.

Ah, right.

[Irony]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

Remember the Iraq invasion? People treated it like the super bowl.

Pretty much; but way more interesting

[MxPhenom 216]

This guy is a god. he knows how to do a proper leap of faith haha.

He did say he was spinning out of control which is what they were hoping wouldn't happen, but he was able to gain control pretty quickly. He also said he could see anything as the visor was fogging up.

[eidairaman1]

Originally Posted by Drone

Many discoveries in science and technology were achieved due to ... wars. Everybody thinks that wars are bad, and wars are bad, but many times wars played role of gears of science. Some philosophers say that without wars humanity will cease to exist. It's quite a controversial thing but not meaningless. However it's sad that governments spend more money on militay crap while there's a lot of other things that need money. Ok I digress ...

its the fact of killing one another, i mean each country has enough of that from their own people.

I am a Veteran as of Mar 31 2012

[bmaverick]

The jump was amazing. Watched it over and over and over again.

As for the spinning out of control, I wonder if reaching the sound barrier helped him straighten out since the sonic pressure was building up around him. Upon the video and infrared, there seems to be two sound barrier sparks displayed. Amazing to see a human reach that level. Just think, in the next 50 years, people can just re-enter from space to earth like a common event. However, it takes a dare-devil to first set things in motion. Just like the morning at Kitty Hawk.

[NinkobEi]

Originally Posted by bmaverick

The jump was amazing. Watched it over and over and over again.

As for the spinning out of control, I wonder if reaching the sound barrier helped him straighten out since the sonic pressure was building up around him. Upon the video and infrared, there seems to be two sound barrier sparks displayed. Amazing to see a human reach that level. Just think, in the next 50 years, people can just re-enter from space to earth like a common event. However, it takes a dare-devil to first set things in motion. Just like the morning at Kitty Hawk.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOOSE - Jumping from 400,000 feet (where the ISS is) would cause you to go about 7,000 MPH when you hit 120,000 feet. There will never be a skydive from that high up lol

[Irony]

Originally Posted by NinkobEi

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOOSE - Jumping from 400,000 feet (where the ISS is) would cause you to go about 7,000 MPH when you hit 120,000 feet. There will never be a skydive from that high up lol

And you would be doing good to end up a charred crisp. The temperature from friction with air at that speed would probably burn you into nothing

[3870x2]

Originally Posted by Irony

And you would be doing good to end up a charred crisp. The temperature from friction with air at that speed would probably burn you into nothing

Isn't gravity much lighter at 400,000 feet? The diver can control the speed of his descent by positioning his body, like Felix.

Things that burn up in our atmosphere are already going fast. The burn wouldnt kill you, the 7200 mp/h windspeeds would do you in before that.

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by MxPhenom 216

This guy is a god.

Why? A lot of people given the chance to do this would have. I would have in a second. This guy isn't a god. Hes just lucky as hell they picked him.

[3870x2]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

Why? A lot of people given the chance to do this would have. I would have in a second. This guy isn't a god. Hes just lucky as hell they picked him.

Also his previous experience probably helps.

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by 3870x2

Also his previous experience probably helps.

I agree. Falling takes skill.

[3870x2]

Originally Posted by TheMailMan78

I agree. Falling takes skill.

Coming out of a plane at 300 mph is crazy. I can't imagine what 800 mph is like.

[TheMailMan78]

Originally Posted by 3870x2

Coming out of a plane at 300 mph is crazy. I can't imagine what 800 mph is like.

My guess would be...

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

But at 800MPH.

[AlienIsGOD]

best line of the jump was "im really high" I just about crapped my pants when he said that

[Drone]

One high-altitude balloon record is still held by Joe Kittinger, however: Back in 1960 the US Air Force colonel free fell for 4 minutes 35 seconds from an altitude of 108,000 feet, while Baumgartner only managed 4 minutes 20 seconds, despite jumping from 30,000 feet higher. This discrepancy is likely caused by the fact that Baumgartner achieved significantly higher speeds than Kittinger, and so the free fall phase ended quicker than expected.

Baumgartner also isn’t technically eligible for the manned balloon altitude world record, as the governing body stipulates that the balloon must be brought back to Earth by the pilot — while Baumgartner rather recklessly just left the balloon hanging there in the stratosphere.

To see more info, pics, vids and so on go here:

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...eaking-skydive

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/1...pheric-skydive