Falling to Earth
Video Credit & Copyright:
Red Bull Stratos,
GoPro;
What would it be like to fall to Earth from really high up?
A new record for the
highest jump was accomplished in 2012 by
Felix Baumgartner.
Surpassing the previous record of 31.3 kilometer
plummet,
Baumgartner, in a
commercial venture,
jumped off a floating balloon platform 39.0 kilometers above New
Mexico, USA and had his entire fall recorded on video.
Baumgartner wore a pressurized suit able to provide breathable air and
warmth while
up in the balloon and during his fall.
Free falling
36.4 km before deploying his parachute, Baumgartner
surpassed 1,000 km per hour and the
sound barrier during the descent.
The above video records his four minutes and 19 seconds of free fall in real
time.
The stunt included a somewhat unexpected but potentially
dangerous spin that occurred
during the second minute which could have knocked out or disoriented Baumgartner.
After an enthralling plummet, Baumgartner's
parachutes deployed and he landed safely.