Supersonic freefall

Sat, Jan 23

London, January 23 (ANI): A "space diver" will try to smash the nearly 50-year-old record for the highest jump this year, becoming the first person to go supersonic in freefall. On 16 August 1960, US Air Force Captain Joe Kittinger made history by jumping out of a balloon at an altitude of some 31,333 metres.

Since then, many have tried to break that record but none have succeeded. Now, according to a report in New Scientist, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner has announced he will make the attempt, with help from Kittinger and sponsorship from the energy drink company Red Bull.

Baumgartner, who became the first person to cross the English Channel in freefall in 2003, will be lofted to a height of 36, 575 metres in a helium balloon. After floating up for roughly three hours, he will open the door of a 1-tonne pressurised capsule, grab the handrails on either side of the exit, and step off, potentially breaking records for the highest parachute jump, as well as the fastest and longest freefall.

He should reach supersonic speeds 35 seconds after he jumps, and the resulting shock wave "is a big concern", according to the project's technical director, Art Thompson.
After falling for about six minutes, Baumgartner should open his parachute at roughly 1520 metres. The jump height is above a threshold at 19,000 metres called the Armstrong line, where the atmospheric pressure is so low that fluids start to boil.