Skydive from space apparently back on

[RickStain]

At that speed, won't the parachute break his back because of the change in velocity?

Presumably not with the thinness of the atmosphere.

 

[Starman]

At that speed, won't the parachute break his back because of the change in velocity? Could he suffer a compression disease, not unlike the bends, because of the drastic change in air pressure in his descent?

Oh well. It's his life. What a moron.

1) No, because the chute will open while the air is still very very thin. My guess is it will open in a very slow, billowy motion rather than a sharp jerk.

2) Presumably the pressure suit will keep the internal pressure on his lungs and body overall pretty constant.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

I'm curious about the heat factor. Obviously, the Columbia broke up on re-entry because of the cracked heat shield. Is friction going to be an issue for this guy or would he have to be in orbit for it to become a factor?

I'm wondering if the suit is designed to withstand the friction or if he simply won't be high enough for it be an issue.

Can't they just cover him in Astroglide?

 

[novelist_wannabe]

UPDATE: He successfully jumped from more than 96,000 feet, reaching a top velocity of 536 mph.

http://www.space.com/16753-felix-baumgartner-space-jump-skydive.html

According to this story, space actually begins at 327,000 feet. Baumgartner isn't going to get close to that in this current endeavor.

 

[Ace]

Interesting that Red Bull is sponsoring something so dangerous. I wonder if they have figures that they get more bang for their buck if he lives or if he dies?

 

[TigerVols]

ESPN the Mag did a long take-out on this guy, and buried in the story is the fact some other dude did the same thing from just a tad shorter distance, way back in the early 60s, without any of the high-tech assistance.

Made me think there's a lot of sizzle here but not much steak.

 

[JackReacher]

UPDATE: He successfully jumped from more than 96,000 feet, reaching a top velocity of 536 mph.

http://www.space.com/16753-felix-baumgartner-space-jump-skydive.html

According to this story, space actually begins at 327,000 feet. Baumgartner isn't going to get close to that in this current endeavor.

Hasn't he been saying he wants to jump from the edge of space? Whatever that means? From what I've read, I think it means right on the cusp of space, but not IN space. Either way, he's moving up from 18 to 23 miles out next month for his big jump.

 

[Shoeless Joe]

While I'm not gonna skydive period unless I happen to be in an aircraft that is about to crash and someone offers me a parachute ...
I say let this guy have at it. If you have a problem in a normal jump from a plane, it's most likely going to kill you, so what's a few more thousand feet. Jump big or go home!

 

[Football_Bat]

If he goes splat, he'd hit at the same speed as if he'd jumped from the back of a C-130 without a chute. You reach terminal velocity when the air resistance against a falling object balances the force of gravity.

Terminal velocity near the surface is about 120 mph for a human in free fall with arms and legs extended. At higher altitudes, the terminal velocity is much higher because the air is thinner and doesn't provide as much resistance. A jumper's descent speed will slow as the atmosphere thickens.

The reason you don't want to open your chute too soon is if you do, the winds will carry you way off target and you could end up in a tree or a power line.

 

[Chef2]

This is the stupidest forking idea in the history of stupid forking ideas.

 

[novelist_wannabe]

Update: The jump is being broadcast live on Discovery right now.

 

[ringer]

There was a time when this stuff was on network TV. (Remember Evel Knievel?)

But no, every network has to air football today.