This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/07/austrian-skydive-space-freefall

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Austrian to attempt skydive from space Austrian to attempt skydive from space
(35 minutes later)
If the wind blowing across the New Mexican desert drops, a 43-year-old Austrian man will step out of a small silver capsule on Tuesday and attempt to make history. If all goes to plan, Felix Baumgartner will jump from the largest helium-filled balloon ever built for manned flight and hurtle towards the earth from near the edge of space, 23 miles up. As he reaches a speed of 690mph he will deploy his parachute, becoming the first man to break the sound barrier in freefall. If the wind blowing across the New Mexican desert drops, a 43-year-old Austrian man will step out of a small silver capsule on Tuesday and attempt to make history. If all goes to plan, Felix Baumgartner will jump from the largest helium-filled balloon ever built for manned flight and hurtle towards the earth from near the edge of space, 23 miles up. He will reach a speed of 690mph, , becoming the first man to break the sound barrier in freefall, before deploying his parachute.
If it goes wrong – as Jonathan Clark, medical director on the Red Bull Stratos team, which has spent five years and undisclosed millions preparing the stunt, says cheerfully – "his skin will boil". If it goes wrong, the project's medical director, Jonathan Clark, says cheerfully, Baumgartner's skin will boil.
Baumgartner explained in a recent interview that he "loves a challenge". The man who made his first parachute jump at 16 – the earliest his native Austria would permit it – and then joined the army to continue his training, also says he hates being called an adrenaline junkie: "I like the planning". Baumgartner explained in a recent interview that he "loves a challenge". He made his first parachute jump at 16, the earliest Austria would permit it, and joined the army to continue his training. He hates being called an adrenaline junkie, saying: "I like the planning."
Both Baumgartner and Red Bull Stratos determinedly describe the purpose of the project as "to advance scientific discoveries in aerospace for the benefit of mankind". It is also, as one commentator has said, one giant leap for publicity. Both Baumgartner and Red Bull Stratos, which has spent five years and undisclosed millions preparing the stunt, say the purpose is "to advance scientific discoveries in aerospace for the benefit of mankind". It is also, as one commentator has said, one giant leap for publicity.
Despite years of planning and two previous test jumps – including one in July from just over 90,000ft – with just five days to go the attempt was put back 24 hours due to forecasts of strong winds. A weekend dress rehearsal went well, and the forecast looks good for Tuesday. With five days to go the attempt was put back by 24 hours due to forecasts of strong winds. A weekend dress rehearsal went well, and the forecast looks good for Tuesday. There have been two test jumps, including one in July from just over 90,000ft up.
Images of the team working round the clock from mission control in Roswell look exactly like a Nasa space launch – and the team does includes many former Nasa scientists. Images of the team working round the clock from mission control in Roswell look exactly like a Nasa space launch, and the team includes many former Nasa scientists.
They also have the formidable 81-year-old current record holder Joe Kittinger on board. In 1960 as a US Air Force pilot, he jumped from a balloon at 102,800 feet. Kittinger still flies planes and balloons, proclaiming "the sky is still my office". Although at least one man has died trying to break his record he says he gets several phone calls a month from people who want to attempt the challenge. They also have the formidable current record holder, Joe Kittinger, on board. In 1960 as a US air force pilot, he jumped from a balloon at 102,800ft. Now 81, Kittinger continues to fly planes and balloons, proclaiming "the sky is still my office". At least one man has died trying to break his record, and Kittinger says he gets several phone calls a month from people who want to attempt the challenge.
Baumgartner will go up in a specially designed capsule wearing a space suit. As the moment comes to open the door, the pressure in the capsule will be switched off, and the space suit's own system will take over – a moment, he has said, "when you can feel your body just does not want to be there". Baumgartner will go up in a specially designed capsule wearing a spacesuit. As the moment comes to open the door, the pressure in the capsule will be switched off, and the spacesuit's own system will take over – a moment, the Austrian has said, "when you can feel your body just does not want to be there".
Kittinger greeted him with a hug after the July test, but clearly thinks this is freefall for softies: "I went up in an open gondola, and Felix is going up in a very sophisticated space capsule … He's going up in luxury, he's going up in a Cadillac by comparison with what we did 51 years ago."Kittinger greeted him with a hug after the July test, but clearly thinks this is freefall for softies: "I went up in an open gondola, and Felix is going up in a very sophisticated space capsule … He's going up in luxury, he's going up in a Cadillac by comparison with what we did 51 years ago."
Baumgartner has already racked up a string of records, including in 1999 jumping from the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur – then the tallest buildings in the world. He also has the record for the lowest altitude jump, from the left hand of the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro in 2001. Baumgartner has already racked up a string of records, including in 1999 jumping from the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, then the tallest buildings in the world. He also has the record for the lowest-altitude jump, from the left hand of the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro in 2001. In 2003 he became the first to skydive across the English Channel, using a carbon fibre wing, and he has jumped from a cliff into the stygian depths of a cave in Croatia.
In 2003 he became the first to skydive across the English Channel, using a carbon fibre wing, and he has also jumped from a cliff into the stygian depths of a cave in Croatia. "I am that type of person who wants to enjoy life," Baugartner said. His mother did get a bit anxious about it all, he admitted. She will be at Roswell to watch the attempt. "She says 'If something goes wrong, at least I can hold you in my hands one more time' … I really don't want to put my mom in that spot, and that means I really have to stay alive."
"I am that type of person who wants to enjoy life," Baugartner said. His mother does get a bit anxious about it all, he admitted. She will be at Roswell to watch the attempt. "She says 'If something goes wrong at least I can hold you in my hands one more time' … I really don't want to put my mom in that spot, and that means I really have to stay alive."