Be a Daredevil?

Today, a Falcon 9 went up, Tuesday,^ Felix Baumgartner is coming down. He’s going after a record set by Joseph W. Kittinger in August 1960.

Could you be a daredevil like these two?  Would you like the rush?  The speed?  Something else?

Joseph is a decorated hero with a long career while Felix is a young guy who jumps for a living, he really is a daredevil.

And they are both in on this jump:  “One of those congratulating Baumgartner will likely be Joe Kittinger, who set the current record of 102,800 feet (31,333 m) back in 1960 while a captain in the U.S. Air Force. Kittinger serves as a Red Bull Stratos adviser.” ~Space.com

As I was reading these articles, I started wondering how long it would take a person and their gear to reach the ground from the edge of space and I read this:

“Eight minutes after his [Joseph’s] main parachute opened, he was back on solid ground in the White Sands Missile Range, having set three world records: the highest ascent in an open gondola, the longest free fall, and the longest parachute descent. Fifty years later, no one has ever jumped from a higher altitude.” ~Tom Crouch

Interestingly, that is about the same amount of time it takes for like to reach the Earth from the Sun.

And now, Felix will try to beat that record:

“If everything works out on Monday,^ Baumgartner will also shatter the marks for fastest freefall, longest-duration freefall and highest manned balloon flight.” ~Space.com

If you’d rather just watch the jump, Red Bull Stratos offers several ways to do so:  Watch Felix jump.

NOTES:
*Daredevil required
*Probably NOT kid friendly
*If you’re good enough, they might pay you!

Sources
*http://www.space.com/17908-record-skydive-supersonic-freefall-monday.html
*http://blog.nasm.si.edu/2010/08/16/the-long-lonely-leap/
*https://www.facebook.com/redbullstratos
*http://www.flickr.com/photos/chiemseehotel/7596211272/

^The jump was delayed from Monday…  “Mission Update: Too Windy! Cold front pushes the launch to Tuesday Oct 9th.” ~Red Bull Stratos