Daredevil to Attempt Spacedive

Author: Min-Q Kim
Posted on: Tuesday April 20, 2010 at 9:00 AM
Filed under: red bull stratos, felix baumgartner, spacedive, skydive, daredevil, supersonic, exclusive

Luke Aikins / Red Bull Photofiles

Felix Baumgartner doing the first Red Bull Stratos Full Suit and Helmet Jump

Skydiving has never looked so pedestrian. An Austrian daredevil / crazy person Felix Baumgartner is partnering with the Red Bull Stratos project to attempt a SPACE dive. Baumgartner's jump will take him 23 miles in the air (120,000 ft.) to the edge of outer space. During his fall, he hopes to break the sound barrier -- as he plummets to the ground at over 760 miles per hour.

Now, this project isn't just for jollies; they've spent years developing a suit that will sustain Mr. Baumgartner through this jump. Ideally, they hope to gather "volumes of data that will be used to develop advanced life support systems for future pilots, astronauts, and even space tourists." (Fox News)

It goes without saying that jumping from space is dangerous, but to get a little more specific: "The temperature can freeze your body, and the lack of air pressure can boil your blood."

So.... Don't try this at home?

Some specs on the supersonic suit: