Sunday, October 14, 2012

Baumgartner Did It!

He's certainly set one record (highest balloon ascent), and probably set another (going supersonic while in freefall).  He landed safe and sound, didn't even fall down though he was wearing the heavy and clumsy flight suit.

The world got to watch the entire thing, thanks to the 30+ cameras plastered all over the capsule and Baumgartner's suit, the amazing visible light and infrared ground cameras, and the equally amazing helicopter-mounted cameras that tracked him while under canopy.  We watched him land under canopy, and fall to his knees – presumably in thanksgiving for a safe adventure.

Wow.  Just wow.

I love it that this whole thing was privately-funded as a marketing venture, something foretold by several science fiction stories I read as a kid in the '60s.  And even more, I love it that Baumgartner insisted on getting Joe Kittinger (the previous record holder for high-altitude jumping) involved.  That was a class act, Mr. Baumgartner, a real class act...

1 comment:

  1. At 24 miles up has really a long way from space, but.... I got to wondering...

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4092686032607&set=p.4092686032607&type=1&ref=nf

    He could potentially hitch a ride with the spaceship one guys (first private spacecraft to take a person to space) to drop him off up there when they start passenger rides. They take a plane up to about 50,000 feet with the rocket under it and then drop the rocket, it ignites and swoops up to over 62 miles. Which is just into space. They arc up and be weightless for just a few minutes as they fall back down. And they are preparing for regular passenger rides...hmmm... I'm wondering cause spaceship one doesn't reach orbital velocities or anything, in fact they don't need a ton of heat shielding.... seems to me, they could just push him out at the top of the arc (tuck and roll Felix) and he could fall back on his own...

    So there is your next challenge Felix.

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