Moments after leaving the balloon's capsule, Felis begins the
descent. Picture from the open door. All photos credit Red Bull Stratos.
Three world records were broken Sunday when Felix Baumgartner of Austria
ascended to a record 128,100 feet (highest manned balloon ascent), and
then jumped in a free fall descent to land by parachute in Roswell, New
Mexico. Yes, THAT Roswell.
Felix leaves the capsule.
The attempt was hit by trouble. Once he had left the capsule, a heating
problem with the visor caused fogging, and he immediately began a
dangerous spin. Later he reported that he was concerned he could pass
out from the spin forces. However, as he encountered thicker atmosphere,
he managed to controlled his spin and continue the fall as planned.
On the way down, he broke another record when his speed reached an
incredible mach 1.24, becoming the first person to exceed the sound
barrier without a jet or rocket. Upon reaching the determined altitude,
his chute opened to slow him, and then his parasail was deployed so he
could maneuver to the designated landing zone.
Plenty of advertising space on the chute!
When he had safely reached the ground he fell to his knees and
triumphantly raised his arms in victory. He was soon joined by his
mentor, Col. Joe Kittinger (ret.) who was the previous record holder.
Felix had now become the man with the highest parachute jump.
The record making jump occurred exactly 65 years from the day that
another man, American Chuck Yeager, made his world record becoming the
first to break the sound barrier in the Bell X-1, on October 14, 1947.
65 years ago, Chuck Yeager standing beside the Bell X-1.
Mark Daymont
Space Center Educator
1 comment:
HOW COULD HE LIVE THREW ALL THAT G-FORCE????
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