ROSWELL, N.M. - A well-known computer scientist parachuted from a balloon near the top of the stratosphere on Friday, falling faster than the speed of sound and breaking the world altitude record set just two years ago.
The jump was made by Alan Eustace, 57, a senior vice president at Google. At dawn he was lifted by a balloon filled with 35,000 cubic feet of helium, from an abandoned runway at the airport here.
For a little over two hours, the balloon ascended at speeds up to 1,600 feet per minute to an altitude of more than 25 miles. Mr. Eustace dangled underneath in a specially designed spacesuit with an elaborate life-support system. He returned to earth just 15 minutes after starting his fall. .
"It was amazing," he said. "It was beautiful. You could see the darkness of space and you could see the layers of atmosphere, which I had never seen before."
Mr. Eustace cut himself loose from the balloon with the aid of a small explosive device and plummeted toward the earth at a speeds that peaked at 822 miles per hour, setting off a small sonic boom heard by observers on the ground....
Apart from it being freaking amazing, how do they parachute? In the video it skips to where it is deployed and he's gliding over few meters that left. So how does he slow down to speed when he can actually deploy it without being ripped part from 800 miles per hour speed?
Apart from it being freaking amazing, how do they parachute? In the video it skips to where it is deployed and he's gliding over few meters that left. So how does he slow down to speed when he can actually deploy it without being ripped part from 800 miles per hour speed?
You'd naturally slow down as you get lower where the atmosphere isn't as thin. The drag from the air would slow him down enough (100-200mph) to allow the parachute to open without tearing him apart.
You'd naturally slow down as you get lower where the atmosphere isn't as thin. The drag from the air would slow him down enough (100-200mph) to allow the parachute to open without tearing him apart.
You'd naturally slow down as you get lower where the atmosphere isn't as thin. The drag from the air would slow him down enough (100-200mph) to allow the parachute to open without tearing him apart.
Yup, someone sponsor me and ill break the record. If Sony or Nintendo gives me money I'll even play psp/game boy on by way down. Else I'll do it with my hands tied.
They seem to have greatly simplified the process if you compare the two jumps. Face plant on the landing though
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Ask a question
Ask a question
Overclock.net
27.8M posts
541.2K members
Since 2004
A forum community dedicated to overclocking enthusiasts and testing the limits of computing. Come join the discussion about computing, builds, collections, displays, models, styles, scales, specifications, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!