Maybe the Most Badass Photo Ever Taken - August 1960
Imagine the guts it takes to jump out of a balloon from 102,000 feet in what looks like a canadian tuxedo.
On August 16, 1960, Joseph Kittinger jumped from a balloon at 102,800 feet (31,300 m). He fell for four minutes and 36 seconds, reaching a maximum speed of 614 miles per hour (988 km/h) before opening his parachute at 18,000 feet (5,500 m). Pressurization for his right glove malfunctioned during the ascent, and his right hand swelled up to twice its normal size. He set historical numbers for highest balloon ascent, highest parachute jump, longest drogue-fall (four minutes), and fastest speed by a human being through the atmosphere.
And he's advising this guy: http://pandawhale.com/convo/7203/felix-baumgartner-supersonic-jump-from-23-miles-above-the-earth
Is he really advising him? How awesome! Baumgartner is going to have over five minutes of free fall.
I can't believe Kittinger's jump was 50 years ago.
From what I've read, Kittinger has turned down a number of advisor requests over the years, and Baumgartner's was the first one he thought was serious enough.
Looking forward to tomorrow, hoping for no hitches...
In some ways it seems aviation technology hasn't greatly improved in 50 years. I think Peter Thiel mentions that in one of his Stanford talks.
Kittinger also served three tours in Vietnam and was captured as a POW for 11 months. The man suffered Rope torture, like Walkace at the end of Braveheart if you've seen it...
Very impressive man.
The more I read about Baumgartner's jump, the more in awe I am.
It's not a tiny rocket ship! It's a giant DRY CLEANING BAG.
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