James May at the Edge of Space (BBC Documentary)

BBC - Documentary ^

[bethybabes69]

James May always wanted to be an astronaut. Now, 40 years after the first Apollo landings, he gets a chance to fly to the edge of space in a U2 spy plane. But first he has to undergo three gruelling days of training with the US Air Force and learn to use a space suit to stay alive in air so thin it can kill in an instant. He discovers that during the flight there are only two people higher than him, and they are both real astronauts on the International Space Station.

[bethybabes69]

Just a quick shout out to my US friends on a great, great, historically significant project with the U2.

Not sure if you guys can view the video content outside the UK, it was a great documentary, and needless to say, James May (one of the great BBC presenters, who got the ticket for a 4 hour U2 ride) is a really lucky, jammy ****** getting to live out this experience!

Great job with the U2, kudos.

[kevinm13]

Captain Slow is playing with the band U2? Cool.

[Moose4]

Now see, if it was Hamster, they’d give him a ride in an SR-71. But Captain Slow, he gets the U-2. :)

Clarkson? I don’t know what they’d put him in, but I’m sure if it was American, he’d be complaining about it the entire way.

}:-)4

[RayChuang88]

Up until 2003, the only people that could fly as high as James May flew on the U-2 were passengers on the Concorde SST, which could fly as high as nearly 60,000 feet at times. But pretty soon, once Virgin Galactic starts its space flights, passengers will fly as high as 328,000 feet, right at the real beginning of space.

[Hoplite]

I’m sure if it was American, he’d be complaining about it the entire way.

The thought of Clarkson in an American plane is sickening.

[SoCalRight]

I’m no rocket scientist, but I don’t think the “thinness” of air in space is what can kill you in an instant. Any science buffs out there?

[bethybabes69]

Apparently, according to another forum posting elsewhere, Clarkson failed the flight criteria without even turning up at Beale, whatever that means? (maybe because he's 9 ft 7 . . or something), or maybe it was the guys at Beale paying him back for being a rat when testing American cars!

I''m glad May got the seat, I like him, and he's a Light Aircraft Pilot anyway.

[bethybabes69]

Is it to do with water the oxygen in water evaporating ferociously?
There was something like such in the documentary in the vacuum chamber, and of course the [lack of] oxygen and air pressure.

[SunkenCiv]

“Is that the crash helmet?” “Oh, I hope not.”

[bethybabes69]

Ha can be soooo lame sometimes Clarkson. He’s a dishonoured Yorkshireman!

[bethybabes69]

Video Link 1/2

Video Link 2/2

30 minutes for the 2 videos, worth a watch!

Enjoy.

[TalonDJ]

I just checked my copy of the Hitchhikers Guide and even hard vacuum will not kill you in an instant.

[bethybabes69]

Be nice for some definitive info TalonDJ, hopefully a USAF techie might post some info.

[SES1066]

"My name is José Jiménez ...

The talented but no longer active comedian Bill Dana as José Jiménez on the Ed Sullivan Show. Immortalized in the book and movie, "The Right Stuff", about the American Test Pilot and NASA Mercury programs.

Dana was born (1924) from a Hungarian-Jewish family as William Szathmary but his broad Jiménez shtick was an early casualty of the reaction against ethnic stereotyping.

[SES1066]

... I don’t think the “thinness” of air in space is what can kill you in an instant.

Give yourself a gold star! Tests have proven that even vacuum is momentarily survivable so long as it is not 'explosive decompression' which implies violence and non-preparation.

[ScreamingFist]

Nice link thanks Bethy!

[BenLurkin]

ping

[SunkenCiv]

William Szathmary, wow.

“I always have a blast before I take off. Otherwise I wouldn’t go near that thing.”

[KevinDavis]

[KevinDavis]

I’m surprised Hammond hasn’t gone bonkers...