Sky Dive from 23 miles

[threefiftyfour]

Sorry, thought it was a hoax based on the run-up and the editing of the video. Now that he has lifted off, I can see it is real.

 

[mrjarrell]

Over 2.2 million people are watching this. Might be a Youtube record.

 

[printcraft]

Over 2.2 million people are watching this. Might be a Youtube record.

I can't find any youtube video of him actually jumping.

They always cut right as he leans forward. WTH?

 

[mrjarrell]

I can't find any youtube video of him actually jumping.

They always cut right as he leans forward. WTH?

He's not going be jumping for a while, yet. They're not even at jump altitude.
The live feed is just showing the ascent, so far.


http://www.youtube.com/user/redbull?v=MrIxH6DToXQ

 

[printcraft]

He's not going be jumping for a while, yet. They're not even at jump altitude.
The live feed is just showing the ascent, so far.


http://www.youtube.com/user/redbull?v=MrIxH6DToXQ

Yeah, I know he won't be up on this jump for another 2 hrs. but
the test jumps at lower altitude videos I can't find 1 that shows him
jumping. Is the jump technique a trade secret or something?

 

[ThrottleJockey]

It would really suck to jump and MISS THE GROUND!

They just said when it reaches altitude the balloon will be thinner than a sandwich baggie....and we can't even get a trash bag that holds trash without tearing! WTF?

 

[Suprtek]

I just tried watching the live video and it locked up my computer. I sense a conspiracy!

 

[ThrottleJockey]

How ironic, 65 years ago today Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in a plane....that guy was robbed.

 

[Suprtek]

Question: What happens to the capsule and balloon after he jumps? Does it just float off into space or does it eventually fall back to earth? If it comes down, there can't be any way to predict where.

 

[mrjarrell]

Question: What happens to the capsule and balloon after he jumps? Does it just float off into space or does it eventually fall back to earth? If it comes down, there can't be any way to predict where.

Well, if it operates like most balloons it'll eventually rupture and the whole thing will come crashing down somewhere. I'll take a guess and say they've probably got insurance to cover any potential damage it may cause.

 

[SmileDocHill]

Above the capsule is the tether, above that is a red section that is actually a parachute but it is stretched out so it just looks like a section of red tether. After the guy exits the capsule it parachutes back to earth.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

He went up about a week ago and didn't jump....wind or something. They were able to bring it all back down and recover it then....I see no reason they can't this time.

 

[Suprtek]

Well that's interesting. Depending on where it lands there could be some interesting political aspects affecting its recovery. Especially if it hits land. I realize its likely to hit water.

 

[SmileDocHill]

I wonder how far off he will drift laterally in the time it takes him to get that high up?

 

[SmileDocHill]

Maybe I'm an old man but I'm still amazed that technology is such that 3,200,000 people can stream a live video feed through the internet at the same time.

That isn't the number of views, that is how many people are watching it right now. Maybe I'm easily impressed.

 

[mrjarrell]

I wonder how far off he will drift laterally in the time it takes him to get that high up?

Well, according to what they said earlier, it won't be that mush after he escapes from the jet stream he had to go through. They released about 60lbs of ballast to get him through it faster. So, he might not be too far east by the time the jump occurs. Haven't heard them state a distance yet.

 

[gunsisgood]

no worki

 

[peloe16]

Maybe I'm an old man but I'm still amazed that technology is such that 3,200,000 people can stream a live video feed through the internet at the same time.

That isn't the number of views, that is how many people are watching it right now. Maybe I'm easily impressed.

poor old man

But I really hope he jumps today. I wonder too where he will actually land. I'm sure they have it all calculated and figured out. Maybe it was scratched last week because wind would have blown him right in the middle of the ocean where it would take a day to go get him

 

[mrjarrell]

I wonder how far off he will drift laterally in the time it takes him to get that high up?

Well, according to what they said earlier, it won't be that mush after he escapes from the jet stream he had to go through. They released about 60lbs of ballast to get him through it faster. So, he might not be too far east by the time the jump occurs. Haven't heard them state a distance yet.

They just said that he's reaching an altitude where the winds are headed in the opposite direction, so perhaps he'll be drifting back towards them, according to their meteorologist. Looks like he's headed a bit south right now.
Edit: Headed SW now.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

What amazes me is that we were able to have our space program with nothing more than slide rules but today we don't even have one because the technology is "too expensive". Why couldn't they have a rocket on the capsule and fire it AFTER the balloon gets to the edge of space? Sure would save a lot of fuel.