WATCH LIVE - Skydiver Freefalls From Edge Of Space

Head Cam Video

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BBC Coverage

834 MPH...

First man ever to break sound barrier...

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ABC News Recap

Red Bull Stratos

Red Bull Stratos is a mission to the edge of space that will try to surpass human limits that have existed for more than 50 years. Supported by a team of experts, Felix Baumgartner will undertake a stratospheric balloon flight to more than 120,000 feet / 36,576 meters and make a record-breaking freefall jump in the attempt to become the first man to break the speed of sound in freefall (an estimated 690 miles / 1,110 kilometers per hour), while delivering valuable data for medical and scientific advancement.

He's trying to break the speed of sound with the velocity of his freefall.

More detail here...

Comments

[SKINFLINT]

The question I have here is this. He will approach speeds of Mach 1. He will continue to decelerate as the air around him becomes more "heavy" At what point does he pull the chute and won't his head come off the top of his spine? Haven't really heard anyone talk about this. He does not apppear to have one of those devices that nascar drivers wear that protect them from this phenonma.

[DailyBail]

Skin

I did read that there will be a 15 second tape delay when the jump actually begins in case he dies. I like that the 84-year old guy who has the current record is helping thru today's launch.

[SKINFLINT]

Yea, he burned the hell out of his hand when a glove tore and exposed some skin. I know there will be a tape delay. Would like to see some actual footage from his helmet or something. My son is an avid sky diver and he is totally juiced about this. You should put that on your bucket list if you haven't already.

[DailyBail]

I've done it once. I was riding tandem with an experienced jumper. Charlottesville, Va, circa 1988. You're in Maryland, right?

[SKINFLINT]

Yea. Jumped with my son in DE.

[SKINFLINT]

Was okay until I got to the door and looked down. Then I was looking for sometihing to grab hold of. Tandem jump. Guy I was attached to said NO NO I got it, then pushed out and that was it. WOW.

[InWestor]

This link gives a little more detail for the mission. Simply Amazing!

http://www.redbullstratos.com/live/

[DailyBail]

ROSWELL, N.M. (AP) -- In a giant leap from more than 24 miles up, a daredevil skydiver shattered the sound barrier Sunday while making the highest jump ever - a tumbling, death-defying plunge from a balloon to a safe landing in the New Mexico desert.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SUPERSONIC_SKYDIVER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-14-11-33-29

[S. Gompers]

Awesome acheivement!

[AWLor0]

If it was the "edge of space," it's a very blurry edge. The balloon took him into the stratosphere, hence the mission name Stratos. For 'space' you need about three times the altitude.

[SKINFLINT]

Alright, so here is the deal. The post game wrap up features a guy going on about the private space program. Should I have a chapped ass that the US Taxpayer has spent trillions of dollars on iinfrastructure and R&D only to hand it off to privateers. Am I missing the picture here. Free market capitolism? Please.

[DailyBail]

Here's a very thorough wrap-up from Gizmodo. Photos, video, etc.

http://gizmodo.com/5951621/watch-the-video-of-the-space-jump-here