Red Bull Stratos

[Adam]

The speed of sound is 761.207 miles per hour.

It's actually less at his initial altitude, which is why they state that he reached Mach 1.24.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

The Red Bull Stratos team reported that the highest speed Baumgartner achieved during freefall was 833.9 miles per hour.

The speed of sound is 761.207 miles per hour.


Felix Baumgartner Completes Record-Setting Jump

"Sometimes we have to get really high to see how small we are,"


Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!

 

[majorloser]

"Sometimes we have to get really high to see how small we are,"


Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!

This guy final broke the barrier and became cooler than the bull-riding monkey.

 

[jostenmeat]

It's hard to believe he was 40,000 feet higher than the SR-71 flew.

Ironically, they knew the fabric of the suit would hold up past the speed of sound, because back in the 60's an SR-71 (yeah, the plane is that old) pilot named Bill Weaver, once had to bail out at Mach 2 and survived wearing the same fabric.

It's cool to see that Joe Kittinger played a key role in the breaking his own records. I first read about his achievements years ago in a fascinating National Geographic article about hot air balloons. IIRC, he said that when immediately looking up at the balloon, it was a bright image on a completely black background, and that it sort of didn't feel like he was jumping at all: his suit was not even ruffling in the slightest, as there just wasn't enough air for that to happen.

Here is a video I just now quickly found that shows Joe's jump from 52 years ago.

 

[Adam]

Ironically, they knew the fabric of the suit would hold up past the speed of sound, because back in the 60's an SR-71 (yeah, the plane is that old) pilot named Bill Weaver, once had to bail out at Mach 2 and survived wearing the same fabric.

I was just reading his account earlier today. According to Bill, they didn't bail out. Rather, the plane disintegrated around them while he was blacked out. Unfortunately, the other man in the plane (Jim Zwayer) did not survive.

 

[BMXTRIX]

This is a once in a lifetime thing... Forget how crazy the guy is, I think this has nothing to do with Felix. Just like test pilots, I think the line is pretty long to have the chance to do something so completely amazing.

I watched the better part of the entire broadcast and was just amazed at the entire process. The balloon completely filling up as the helium expanded was very cool to see. The unbelievable speed of the fall. They originally expected the fall to take about 20 minutes I think - so a 10 minute 24 mile to ground decent was about twice of what they expected. He was really moving! It seems like he did a great job completely shatterring the speed record, which seems to have cost him the 'longest time in freefall' record.

I don't think he is complaining, and for someone who loves to skydive, this was an experience that goes well beyond what he perhaps ever dreamed possible.

BBC is putting together some sort of special on this which I will happily watch when it comes out. The entire process has been interesting ... other than about an hour of waiting for the balloon to rise.

 

[avliner]

This is a once in a lifetime thing... Forget how crazy the guy is, I think this has nothing to do with Felix. Just like test pilots, I think the line is pretty long to have the chance to do something so completely amazing...

Totally agree with you though and, as you said already ( once in a lifetime thingy...), the guy himself said he's going for retirement... No more crazy adventures from now on...

In other words... mission much, pretty much more than accomplished, period!!