First Human to Break the Sound Barrier
46K Views | 3 Years Ago | Smithsonian Channel Risk Takers
Within the next few hours, Felix would be back on Earth having become the first human to break the sound barrier.
Decades before Felix Baumgartner, Joseph Kittinger set the record for the highest free fall. In 1960, Kittinger jumped from a helium balloon at an altitude of 102,800 feet (31,333 meters) and free fell for 4 minutes and 36 seconds before opening his parachute. His record stood for over 50 years until Baumgartner broke it in 2012.
Baumgartner's freefall was even more impressive than Kittinger's. He jumped from a height of 128,100 feet (39,044 meters) and free fell for 4 minutes and 19 seconds, reaching a speed of 833.9 mph (1,342 km/h) before opening his parachute. This made him the first human to break the sound barrier without the aid of a vehicle.
Both Kittinger's and Baumgartner's jumps were incredibly dangerous and required years of planning and preparation. But they also paved the way for future breakthroughs in human spaceflight.
Here are some interesting facts about Felix Baumgartner's jump:
- He jumped from a capsule attached to a helium balloon.
- The balloon reached an altitude of 128,100 feet (39,044 meters).
- Baumgartner free fell for 4 minutes and 19 seconds.
- He reached a speed of 833.9 mph (1,342 km/h).
- He opened his parachute at an altitude of 8,960 feet (2,731 meters).
- He landed safely in the New Mexico desert.
Baumgartner's jump was not only a personal triumph but also a major milestone in human spaceflight. It showed that it was possible for a human to survive a freefall from the edge of space and paved the way for future space missions.
Komentar