Indeed he did! Austrian daredevil Felix Baumgartner jumped from a helium filled balloon over the New Mexico desert, and in the process set several new world records. Not the least of which was becoming the first man to break the sound barrier without a jet engine.
He also set the mark for the highest ever skydive at some 24 miles high, breaking a 52 year old record set by Joe Kittenger in 1960 of 19 miles high. He also set the mark for the highest manned ascent in a balloon.
Baumgartner's speed hit more than 13 hundred k/mh, more than 834 mph, on his way down. Which took 9 minutes.
Kittenger, who was part of Baumgartner's team, hit 614 mph back in 1960, but unlike Baumgartner, he had a drogue parachute deployed to keep him stable during his descent. In fact, Baumgartner was set to deploy his drogue chute after he started spinning at a high rate before regaining control.
His attempts had been foiled earlier by winds exceeding 2 mph, which was the maximum his 55 storey high, extremely flimsy balloon could take before ripping apart.
In the video's, you can clearly see the curvature of the earth. And Baumgartner's leap. And while it was great seeing this, I'll keep my feet firmly on Terra Firma thanks.
Like the old saying, the more Firma, the less Terra!
'Nuff said.
*****Sorry. Math was never my strong suit. After reviewing various sources, I've had to revise the speed which Baumgartner attained. Originally, I stated (incorrectly) he hit 860 mph. His actual top speed was in the region of 834*****
Welcome! I hope you enjoy, and are maybe infuriated by, my somewhat irreverent take on world news and events, and the people who make and shape them. I hope we can share a laugh, and maybe provoke a thought, about what's happening "out there".
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