I Hope He Pulls This Off

In the summer of 2012, Felix Baumgartner will attempt a record-breaking freefall jump from 120,000 feet - 23 miles - above the earth as part of Red Bull Stratos: a mission to the edge of space. The attempt will take place near Roswell, NM, USA, and if successful, Felix Baumgartner could be the first person to break the speed of sound with his own body, protected only by a space suit. As no one has successfully jumped from this height before, it's uncertain what the highest supersonic freefall in history will look or feel like. This animated video gives us a sense of what to expect when the history-making jump takes place later this summer when the weather is best for a launch.



You all know how stupid I think most 'record' attempts are. People who spend 40 years of their lives growing out their armpit hair or who eat 5200 goldfish crackers in a minute need to be removed from the gene pool.

However, this record attempt hopefully will have some science behind it. I am interested in the suit Felix is wearing. How does it prevent damage by the heat of friction he will no doubt start producing when he reaches the thicker air at the lower altitudes? I hope the eventually special on TV will answer many of these questions and more.

You are a braver man than I am Felix. I have jumped twice - once from 3300 feet and the other from 10,000 feet. Both time I was more terrified in the plane than I ever was in the air. In the air you don't have the sensation of falling - you more feel like you are floating and you have time to check out the scenery around you before you have to pull your parachute. Then things get super relaxing until you get near the ground. Remember your training and things will work out all right.

http://superpunch.blogspot.ca/