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Skydiver Felix Baumgartner Completes 18-Mile Jump
abc ^ | 7/25/12 | GINA SUNSERI and KEVIN DOLAK

Posted on 07/25/2012 2:53:48 PM PDT by Nachum

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner this morning landed from his 18-mile dive back to Earth from the edge of space, in a plummet that reached a speed of more than 500 mph.

Mission Control gave the go ahead this morning for the launch, saying "God Speed Felix" from Roswell, N.M., where the mission is being hosted. Baumgartner, an Austrian national, was lifted in a capsule carried afloat by a huge helium balloon.

Click Here for Pictures: Felix Baumgartner's Dive

The balloon took 90 minutes to get to 90,000 feet. The crane holding the capsule went up as fast as it could to get the capsule under the 210-foot tall balloon as it rose. After he jumped, Baumgartner was in freefall for five minutes. After five minutes, his parachute opened, at which point it took another seven to 10 minutes to descend to Earth. PHOTO: Felix Baumgartner is shown upon landing from his 18-mile dive back to Earth from the edge of space, in a plummet that reached a speed of 600 mph in 20 seconds. ABC Felix Baumgartner is shown upon landing from... View Full Size Skydiver Aims for the Edge of Space Watch Video 80-Year-Old Skydiver's Nightmare Jump Watch Video Skydiver Survives Fall Without Parachute Watch Video

"Fearless Felix" was in free fall for an estimated three minutes and 48 seconds. His top speed was approximately 536 mph, Brian Utley, an official observer on site, told The Associated Press.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: baumgartner; felix; felixbaumgartner; jump; skydiver; skydiving; space; spacediving; spacejump
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Incredible.
1 posted on 07/25/2012 2:53:56 PM PDT by Nachum
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To: Nachum

More incredible:

Somebody did it from even higher more than 50 years ago.

(I think this guy intends to eventually attempt to break that record.)


2 posted on 07/25/2012 2:56:53 PM PDT by I cannot think of a name
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To: I cannot think of a name

Capt. Joe Kittinger in the 50’s. He’s still alive and helping Felix with his jump.


3 posted on 07/25/2012 2:59:21 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Nachum
"...reached a speed of more than 500 mph."
"...in a plummet that reached a speed of 600 mph in 20 seconds."
"His top speed was approximately 536 mph,..."

So, which was it?

4 posted on 07/25/2012 2:59:40 PM PDT by Yo-Yo
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To: I cannot think of a name
Yup. Capt. Kittenger jumped from 102,800 feet in 1960. This guy's next jump is scheduled to be from 120,000 feet. I also suffer from adrenaline addiction...although age has cured some of it's effects.

Photobucket

5 posted on 07/25/2012 3:03:09 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: Yo-Yo

The first one is most accurate, so I will go with that.


6 posted on 07/25/2012 3:04:44 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: Nachum
"The pressure is huge,

Actually, Felix, the pressure is almost nonexistent!

"We're excellently prepared, but it's never going to be a fun day. I'm risking my life, after all."

Funny, I don't recall the astronauts bigging themselves up and stating the bleeding obvious.

7 posted on 07/25/2012 3:05:41 PM PDT by relictele
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To: I cannot think of a name

Colonel Joseph William Kittinger II (born July 27, 1928) (Age 83) is a former command pilot and career military officer in the United States Air Force. He is most famous for his participation in Project Manhigh and Project Excelsior, holding the records for having the highest, fastest and longest skydive, from a height greater than 31 kilometers (19 miles). Awarded: Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (6) Bronze Star (3) Purple Heart (2) Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (24) Prisoner of War Medal.


8 posted on 07/25/2012 3:07:13 PM PDT by Colorado Cowgirl (God bless America!)
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To: gorush

Old school! I don’t think I could fit in my black and gold Brand X suit anymore... and I don’t know where my old “frenchie” helmet went.


9 posted on 07/25/2012 3:09:45 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Nachum

I used to jump off our garage roof when I was a kid. Prolly pretty similar.


10 posted on 07/25/2012 3:11:49 PM PDT by crosshairs (America: Once the land of the free. Still the home of the brave.)
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To: Nachum

I jumped at every altitude between 800ft and 2000ft (all night jumps, of course). Anything else is plain crazy!


11 posted on 07/25/2012 3:20:30 PM PDT by Sarajevo (Don't think for a minute that this excuse for a President has America's best interest in mind.)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
Old indeed. That was a long time ago, a paracommander in a bird rig w/ chest mounted reserve...I was flying a piggyback w/ square chutes when I retired, however.

Photobucket

12 posted on 07/25/2012 3:21:28 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: gorush

The equipment really improved over time. The dude’s in the wingsuits base jumping/flying absolutely fascinate me.


13 posted on 07/25/2012 3:27:44 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Tijeras_Slim
They closed El Capitan down for base jumping just as I was heading out there having just acquired my expert license (for that purpose.) Oh well...lots of great memories and over 2 hours of freefall in just under 300 jumps.

Photobucket

14 posted on 07/25/2012 3:33:20 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: Sarajevo

Night jumps are the best. I used to get high schools to hire me for football game halftime jumps. I’d hire the plane to take me up to 10 or 12 thousand feet although, of course, that didn’t interest the viewers.


15 posted on 07/25/2012 3:37:59 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: I cannot think of a name

This was his test jump. He intends to go for the record next month or so. Can you imagine—a test jump?


16 posted on 07/25/2012 3:45:51 PM PDT by rabidralph
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To: gorush

Tell me about it. I have 586 jumps and held a D license. This is flat out awesome. Guy has some major league nads. If his suit fails, he dies. Anxious to see what happens when he breaks the sound barrier. He said today when he left the platform he had zero control. He’s going for world record set in the 60’s. Has my utmost respect. Stopped jumping 12 years ago when I went out from work. My body wont take the stresses anymore. I miss it. Just sold my 7 cell ram air canopy and reserve last year. :(


17 posted on 07/25/2012 3:50:13 PM PDT by halfright (FAST & FURIOUS! DON'T ALLOW THEM TO DIVERT YOUR ATTENTION.)
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To: halfright

If you watch footage of Kittinger’s record jump he’s all over the place at first. There’s just not enough atmosphere at that altitude to get control.


18 posted on 07/25/2012 3:53:44 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: halfright

I read years ago that Kittenger broke the sound barrier in the higher altitudes. The thinner the atmosphere, the lower the sound barrier. Kittenger deployed a small chute within the first 10 seconds to counteract the lack of control Felix was talking about. If you get in to a flat spin at that elevation you can’t stop it. The spin accelerates and pretty soon your blood is all in your extremities irrespective of the pressure suit...from that altitude anyway. I’d take his place in the next jump in a second given a chance. A guy can dream. :{)


19 posted on 07/25/2012 3:59:30 PM PDT by gorush (History repeats itself because human nature is static)
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To: Tijeras_Slim

Yeah, the wing suits are very cool. A lot of those guys are dying, though. I think the best glide slope they can get is 2/1.


20 posted on 07/25/2012 4:10:25 PM PDT by KevinB (We'll stop treating Obama like a dog when he stops treating us like a fire hydrant - Fred Grandy)
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