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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

JCC Dude jumping out of a spaceship thing and plummeting to Earth today

Discussion in 'Community' started by jp-30, Oct 8, 2012.

  1. jp-30

    jp-30 Manager Emeritus star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 14, 2000
  2. DarthLowBudget

    DarthLowBudget Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 17, 2004
    Hmm...what are the odds that breaking the sound barrier kills you?
     
  3. JoinTheSchwarz

    JoinTheSchwarz Former Head Admin star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

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    Nov 21, 2002
    canyouhearmemajortommm
     
  4. jp-30

    jp-30 Manager Emeritus star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 14, 2000
    Let's ask all the passengers of the Concord. Not the one that crashed, though.
     
  5. Juliet316

    Juliet316 Chosen One star 10

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    Apr 27, 2005
    Potential Darwin nominee in the waning months of the year?
     
  6. Ramza

    Ramza Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

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    Jul 13, 2008
    This will either end in a glorious achievement for stupid stunts or a Darwin award. Can't wait.
     
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  7. DarthLowBudget

    DarthLowBudget Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 17, 2004
    Well, I mean outside of the body of an aircraft, obviously.
     
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  8. Darth Guy

    Darth Guy Chosen One star 10

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    Aug 16, 2002
    When I saw Discovery Channel run a 727 into the ground today (for science), my first thought was that it was a shame there were no people on board. Thanks, Red Bull.
     
  9. yankee8255

    yankee8255 Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    May 31, 2005
    Darned you and your NZ time, japes, I even had a thread title worked out "Not all Salzburg residents share my fear of heights".:p

    Pretty cool story, Baumgartner has made something of a name for himself as a base jumper, he's jumped off the two of the tallest buildings in the world, one of the hands of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio, and he also "jumped" across the English Channel


    So today's jump will, if successful, break four world records. And, according to Wired, this isn't all just a gimmick to get you to drink more grotesque sugar water.

    The Stratos website has a nice interactive timeline of the jump here, btw.
     
  10. DarthLowBudget

    DarthLowBudget Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 17, 2004
    Just read that his target landing site is Roswell, New Mexico, so I will predict that not only will Baumgartner break the sound barrier, he will also break the time barrier, and we will finally have an answer to what happened back in 1947.
     
  11. Ramza

    Ramza Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Jul 13, 2008
    Ironically, the answer will turn out to be that he was the Roswell event all along.

    Edit: Oh, wait, that's exactly what you implied. I like that theory, then. :p
     
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  12. jp-30

    jp-30 Manager Emeritus star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 14, 2000
    Aircraft. Pressurised space suit... same thing.
     
  13. Darth Guy

    Darth Guy Chosen One star 10

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    Aug 16, 2002
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_High_Dive :p
     
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  14. DarthLowBudget

    DarthLowBudget Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 17, 2004
    Well not quite exactly. Supersonic aircraft are specifically engineered to alleviate the extreme stresses that occur as you approach mach speed...been looking around and nobody is quite sure what exactly would happen to the human body as it breaks the sound barrier or when it goes subsonic again. Looks like we'll find out tomorrow, one way or the other.
     
  15. tom

    tom Chosen One star 8

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    Mar 14, 2004
    if he dies it will be hard for them to continue using the "red bull gives you wings" campaign slogan.
     
  16. Ramza

    Ramza Administrator Emeritus star 9 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

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    Jul 13, 2008
    "Red Bull at least facilitates instantaneous death on impact."
     
  17. yankee8255

    yankee8255 Force Ghost star 6

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    May 31, 2005
    Some info on the suit here.
     
  18. DarthLowBudget

    DarthLowBudget Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Jan 17, 2004
    If he dies, expect Red Bull to break the sound barrier as they hurry to distance themselves from the fallout.
     
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  19. jp-30

    jp-30 Manager Emeritus star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

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    Dec 14, 2000
    They will already have the press release written, and the press conference scripted, for the 'fail' outcome.
     
  20. jp-30

    jp-30 Manager Emeritus star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 14, 2000
    How long will the ascent take?
     
  21. yankee8255

    yankee8255 Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    May 31, 2005
    According to the timeline at the website, a little under three hours.
     
  22. Darth Guy

    Darth Guy Chosen One star 10

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    Aug 16, 2002
    Fate has ordained that this dude who jumped out of a spaceship thing in peace will remain on the ground... as kind of a red splatter.
     
  23. yankee8255

    yankee8255 Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    May 31, 2005
    The RB marketing department has conned half the World's population between 16 and 25 into to drinking nasty sugar-water.I doubt they'll have a problem putting a positive spin on a failure.
     
  24. jp-30

    jp-30 Manager Emeritus star 10 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Dec 14, 2000
    So, top of the ascent at 4am my time. I think I'll get the highlights when I wake up at 7am.
     
  25. yankee8255

    yankee8255 Force Ghost star 6

    Registered:
    May 31, 2005
    Both Austrian public television (ORF1) and Red Bull's own TV station (Servus TV) have coverage all day long. Lift off local time is some time after 2pm. Hope he jumps before 6pm, I only set the PVR to tape until 6:30.

    Seriously, the whole company is based on marketing and hype. The beverage has almost become secondary.

    EDIT And the fall will take 15-20 minutes. 5 minutes of that in free-fall. Apparently the biggest danger, aside from a tear to the suit, is falling into a spin when he first jumps, since there's no air at that elevation to help him correct his position. Apparently that happened to Joe Kittinger, the current record holder, during one of his practice jumps, he was unconscious for most of the jump, regained consciousness when his backup parachute opened automatically.