High Dive (Sky Diving from 60 MILES UP!)

Popular Science ^ | 7/1/07 | "Speed Weed"

[FormerACLUmember]

Sixty miles up, you sit in a chair on the open deck of a small rocket, admiring the stars above, the Earth far, far below. The vacuum beyond your visor is cold, but it would boil your blood if your pressure suit failed. You give your parachute straps a reassuring pat. It’s utterly silent. Just you and your fragile body, hovering alone above the Earth. “Space Diver One, you are go,” crackles a voice in your ear, and you undo your harness and stand up. There’s nothing for it now: You paid a lot of money for this.

You breathe deeply and leap, somersaulting into the void. The mother planet is gorgeous from up here. You barely perceive that it’s rushing up toward you, and your body relaxes. You streak into the atmosphere at 2,500 miles an hour, faster than anyone’s ever gone without a vehicle.

(note) this is a five screen article. Click on the bottom to read all 5 pages.

[FormerACLUmember]

You first.

[FormerACLUmember]

Suit also useful for surviving the stench when in the proximity of Daily Kos democrats.

[Lancey Howard]

Wow. I would do it. Now that I’m pretty old anyway.

[usmcobra]

[FormerACLUmember]

Barbara George hid this month’s Popular Science from old skydiving George H. Bush.

[RightWhale]

Small jets to orient the body will be the first thing discarded by purists. When this becomes an Olympic event body motion will be awarded points for difficulty, creativity, and artistic effect.

[Gay State Conservative]

And your descent trajectory is so predictable that you’re certain not to land in the middle of the Pacific,1000 miles from the nearest land?

[FormerACLUmember]

Incoming at 2500 mph!

[Snoopers-868th]

Will legislation be enacted—you know that behavioral stuff because it cost too much to cover this type of life-style or will their personal premiums be raised accordingly? I think not—it is only the smokers, fat people and common peoples habits that will be controlled/punished by life-style. Climbing mountains and space jumping are among the sports that mostly only the rich can afford. I doubt these people will be charged accordingly. It appears to me the slippery slope only applies to common people.

[FormerACLUmember]

I am sure this new sport will be totally safe. No conceivable problems.

[BigBlueJon]

Space diving has already been perfected. Master Chief says, "Been there, done that, bought the T-Shirt."

[bolobaby]

Unfortunately, I had to stop subscribing or buying Pop-sci when they became more politically oriented than technology oriented.

[Cobra64]

Al Gore looking for global warming.

[digger48]

Boba Fett?

[FormerACLUmember]

Life insurance policies will certainly exclude reimbursement for space diving. Right after the pay-out exclusion for “jumping naked into an active volcano lava pit.”

[FormerACLUmember]

Life ultimately imitates/surpasses all sci-fi.

[Ditter]

hummmm...... no thanks......I’m good.

[CaptRon]

Project Manhigh. Col. Joe Kittenger became the first man to break the speed of sound without a plane.

[AntiKev]

Do you want the short answer or the long answer?

The short answer is yes.

[ECM]

I wrote a design doc for a video game based on a concept like this a number of years ago—maybe now it’s time to dust it off :)