Sky Diving, at Mach 1.24

[lauerz]

ROSWELL, N.M. — A man fell to Earth from more than 24 miles high on Sunday, becoming the first human to break the sound barrier under his own power — with some help from gravity.

Felix Baumgartner, an Austrian daredevil, made the highest and fastest jump in history after ascending a helium balloon to an altitude of 128,100 feet. As millions around the world experienced the vertiginous view from his capsule’s camera, which showed a round blue world surrounded by the black of space, he stepped off into the void and plunged downward, reaching a maximum speed measured at 833.9 miles per hour, or Mach 1.24.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/us/felix-baumgartner-skydiving.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

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Red Bull Stratos

[lauerz.livejournal.com]

In January 2010, it was reported that Baumgartner was working with a team of scientists and sponsor Red Bull to attempt the highest sky-dive on record.[9] Baumgartner initially struggled with claustrophobia after spending time in the pressurized suit required for the jump, but overcame it with help from a sports psychologist and other specialists.[10]
The launch was originally scheduled for 9 October 2012, but was aborted due to adverse weather conditions. Launch was rescheduled and the mission instead took place on 14 October 2012 when Baumgartner landed in eastern New Mexico after jumping from a world record 128,097 feet, over 24 miles (39 km).[10][11] On the basis of provisional data, Baumgartner also set the record for the highest manned balloon flight at 39.045 kilometres (24.261 mi) and fastest speed of free fall at 1,342 kilometres per hour (834 mph) making him the first human to break the sound barrier outside of a vehicle.[12][13] Baumgartner was in free fall for 4 minutes, 19 seconds, just 17 seconds shy of his mentor Joseph Kittinger's 4 minutes, 36 second record from 1960.[12]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Baumgartner

Re: Red Bull Stratos

[lauerz.livejournal.com]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bull_Stratos