World Record Skydiver

[Jubby]

I came across an article that mentioned that an Austrian skydiver, Felix Baumgartner, will be diving from 120,000 feet. You can read the article here. What make me curious about it is the information they post in it:

And if all goes well, Baumgartner will set another world record during his jump, becoming the first human being to break the speed of sound in a free-fall jump.

Anyone know how this is possible? I thought terminal velocity for a human is around 120mph, not hundreds of miles per hour.

 

[Dennisch]

120000 miles, so he will be in orbit.

There was already some American guy who jumped out of a balloon from 100000ft.
He went through the sound barrier ~600 mph high up in the sky, due to the thin air up there.

Joseph K.

 

[PeterJB]

I'm guessing you've mistaken miles for feet. He'd just float off into space at that distance.

 

[DustDriver]

In air at around 1 bar that terminal velocity may be correct, but there's not much air up in the Stratosphere.

 

[Neal]

It's ok, Red Bull have given him wings

 

[Famine]

Felix Baumgartner's project is being advised by Joe Kittinger - the man who fell off the highest step in the world during Project Excelsior.

Terminal velocity is the maximum speed at which a body can fall through atmosphere. Atmosphere under a mile (5,280ft) is thick and gloopy, pressure is around 0.85 to 1 bar and a human can fall at 120mph or so. Atmosphere at 120,000ft (23 miles) is thin and empty, pressure is around zero (well... 0.01 bar) and a human can fall at Mach or more.

 

[lemansfanatic]

What a mach-o stunt!

 

[ZohsixGT5]

120,000 miles eh? Is he landing on the moon or the earth?

 

[Dennisch]

120,000 miles eh? Is he landing on the moon or the earth?

He is aiming for a GPS satellite.

 

[ZohsixGT5]

120000 miles, so he will be in orbit.

There was already some American guy who jumped out of a balloon from 100000ft.

Joseph K.

Just noticed, why does he have a night stand strapped to his back?

 

[wfooshee]

From 120,000 miles he's gonna be there a while. Might need a nap.

 

[Dennisch]

Just noticed, why does he have a night stand strapped to his back?

It's a toolbox, obviously.

 

[killer tiller]

It's a toolbox, obviously.

One small step for man, one giant leap for snap-on :sly

 

[G.T.Ace]

The Stratos project, can't wait to see the videos of it.
Official site: http://www.redbullstratos.com/

 

[Jubby]

I'm guessing you've mistaken miles for feet. He'd just float off into space at that distance.

D'oh. Thanks, simple slip... now fixed and thank you for more information. Makes sense. I wonder how many would like to do this.

 

[Dennisch]

I would. Without hesitation.

 

[TheeFrogmanlego]

Wont he burn up???

 

[Famine]

Just noticed, why does he have a night stand strapped to his back?

He doesn't.

In fact his right glove failed on the journey up and blood started to pool in his right hand, but he decided not to tell anyone because they'd only have stopped him.

Wont he burn up???

No. Heating up comes from friction, which comes from riding along the atmosphere at orbital speed. Something heading straight down simply decelerates - he'll jump out and reach local terminal velocity (about 650mph) within about 30 seconds, then gradually be slowed as local terminal velocity decreases, to about 120mph 5,000ft off deck.

We don't bring spaceships back like this because they're doing 18,000mph and they don't decelerate quickly enough - they'd cover the 62 miles from space to ground in about twelve seconds, which isn't really enough time to even think "Gosh, the ground's getting bigger really quic."

 

[Shaun]

I wonder how many would like to do this.

I'd have a go.
120,000 feet eh, gee he's trumped my highest jump tenfold.

Cheers Shaun.