Skydiver to jump from 25 miles up

The Sunday Times (UK) ^ | October 21 2001 | Paul Ham, Sydney

[aculeus]

AN AUSTRALIAN former commando is preparing to leap from a balloon floating in near-space 25 miles above the ground in an attempt to become the world's highest skydiver.

Rodd Millner, 37, hopes to freefall for six minutes before opening his parachute and touching down within 30 miles of Ayers Rock in central Australia. He said: "A man in space has never achieved this, but research indicates the transition will be safe and smooth."

He appears undaunted by warnings from scientists that the descent through near-space could be so fast that his head will explode.

Millner plans to make the jump early next year wearing a pressurised spacesuit, and will have a camera attached to his body so that millions of viewers can watch live on television.

He was inspired by the attempts of the entrepreneur Richard Branson to fly around the world in a balloon. Millner said: "I've always respected those who have pushed the boundaries in life.

"Branson wrote that the last great balloon challenge was to circumnavigate the world. I disagree because, in my opinion, balloons were designed to go up - not around."

Millner plans to ascend in a gondola beneath a specially built balloon that will inflate as it rises until it becomes as wide as two jumbo jets. At 130,000ft - about 25 miles up - he will jump out.

The unofficial world record for the highest skydive was set at 102,000ft by Joe Kittinger, an American, in 1960.

Boeing 747s rarely fly higher than 35,000ft. "Anything beyond 60,000ft is known as the dead zone," said a spokesman for the Space Jump project's scientific team.

"No one really knows what might happen to Rodd. That's why he needs a pressurised spacesuit - he'll be diving from the edge of space."

The main danger is a lack of oxygen. Despite the suit, Millner could lose consciousness, in which case the parachute is equipped with a remote control that should ensure that it opens at a prescribed altitude.

Millner began intensive training for the jump in July. His backers include the Australian Defence Force Academy as well as several media companies.

Millner, a former member of the Australian Army's Reserve 1st Commando Regiment special forces unit, has always yearned for extreme experiences. He has been filmed with leopard sharks while scuba diving off the coast of Thailand, was ranked No 1 in Australian kung fu in the mid-1980s and has snowboarded and abseiled down mountains.

Walt Missingham, the project director, said millions of pounds had already been invested in the jump, from which scientific data will be gleaned on the human response to extreme conditions.

For his part, Millner insists that the dive is not a stunt, but a scientific experiment. "It's extreme science," he said.

[aculeus]

Gravity sucks.

[NYS_Eric]

The unofficial world record for the highest skydive was set at 102,000ft by Joe Kittinger, an American, in 1960.

This record still stuns me. I remember reading about it a couple of years ago. Extreme bravery or extreme death wish.

[LurkerNoMore!]

I thought 'vitim of circumstances' might be interested in this...

[gcruse]

Millner began intensive training for the jump in July.

What do you suppose his intensive training included?  Looking real hard
out the window of a clothes dryer?  Timed climbing-out-of-a-basket?
Looking down?  Staying warm?  Pinin' ?

[dighton]

The Longest Leap

[DouglasKC]

He appears undaunted by warnings from scientists that the descent through near-space could be so fast that his head will explode.

If I had a nickel for everytime somebody told me something would make my head explode I'd be a rich man.

[Tacis]

I'm betting that his widow will sue the parachute manufacturer because the 'chute will be found torn to ribbons; the airplane driver for not preventing him from jumping; that owner of the land on which he splats for maintaining a dangerous landing zone; and scientists for not clearly explaining the law of gravity. At least the baloon guys, who always fail, leave themselves some room for failure. What is that Indian guy's name that he is supposed to yell?

[daedal]

It's not the gravity that stinks, it's the solid mass of rock associated with the gravity.

[Houston Owl]

No, they won't sue...the are in Australia, not America.

[NYS_Eric]

Thanks for the link. Looks like the colnel made a career out of bravery.

[Amore]

Coincidentally, Kittinger is a balloonist too.

[SERKIT]

Man-High

This was the Air Force Project for high altitude parachute experiments.

[dighton]

Museum now bookmarked. Thanks.

[spectr17]

Rodd Millner, 37, hopes to freefall for six minutes before opening his parachute and touching down within 30 miles of Ayers Rock in central Australia. He said: "A man in space has never achieved this, but research indicates the transition will be safe and smooth." He appears undaunted by warnings from scientists that the descent through near-space could be so fast that his head will explode.

This guy might want to research the Russian dude who didn't find the fall so safe and smooth. He's in a cemetary outside of Moscow somewhere.

[Mark Turbo]

GERONIMO!!!

[Johnny B.]

This guy might want to research the Russian dude who didn't find the fall so safe and smooth. He's in a cemetary outside of Moscow somewhere.

Did they bury him there, or is that just where he landed?

[Trailer Trash]

I hope he has one of these

.....*

[Ole Okie]

What is that Indian guy's name that he is supposed to yell?

Dunno, but he's buried at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

There's a little town named Geronimo south of Fort Sill and Lawton. Do that ring any bells?

[spectr17]

Did they bury him there, or is that just where he landed?

It's actually a pretty good bounce. From my feeble recollection, they scraped up enough of the guy to bury him.

[abner]

For his part, Millner insists that the dive is not a stunt, but a scientific experiment. "It's extreme science," he said.

Yea, right. . .

Thanks for the flag.