Joseph W. Kittinger parachutes from 102,800 feet

song in video:

http://www.zshare.net/audio/8844965140341b08/

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Captain Kittinger was then assigned to the Aerospace Medical Research Laboratories at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio. For Project Excelsior (meaning "ever upward", a name given to the project by Colonel Stapp), as part of research into high altitude bailout, he made a series of three parachute jumps wearing a pressurized suit, from a helium balloon with an open gondola.

The first, from 76,400 feet (23,287 m) in November, 1959 was a near tragedy when an equipment malfunction caused him to lose consciousness, but the automatic parachute saved him (he went into a flat spin at a rotational velocity of 120 rpm; the g-force at his extremities was calculated to be over 22 times that of gravity, setting another record). Three weeks later he jumped again from 74,700 feet (22,769 m). For that return jump Kittinger was awarded the Leo Stevens parachute medal.

On August 16, 1960 he made the final jump from the Excelsior III at 102,800 feet (31,330 m). Towing a small drogue chute for stabilization, he fell for 14 minutes and 36 seconds reaching a maximum speed of 614 mph (988 km/h or 274 m/s) before opening his parachute at 18,000 feet (5,500 m). Pressurization for his right glove malfunctioned during the ascent, and his right hand swelled to twice its normal size.[1] He set records for highest balloon ascent, highest parachute jump, longest drogue-fall (14 min), and fastest speed by a human through the atmosphere[2].

The jumps were made in a "rocking-chair" position, descending on his back, rather than the usual arch familiar to skydivers, because he was wearing a 60-lb "kit" on his behind and his pressure suit naturally formed that shape when inflated, a shape appropriate for sitting in an airplane cockpit.

For the series of jumps, Kittinger was decorated with an oak leaf cluster to his D.F.C. and awarded the Harmon Trophy by President Dwight Eisenhower.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• joseph
• kittinger
• parachuting
• highest
• altitude
• parachute
• space
• air
• force
• world
• record
• free
• fall
• amazing
• crazy
• beautiful

[ryjoph89]

Love the song. Can you reupload. Link is expired again.

[cheatman06]

@ryjoph89 updated link under description

[Apoc897]

Awesome. Love the music too. Any way you could re-upload it to Z-share? The link expired...

Also, sounds kinda like Patrick Watson doing the vocals.

[cheatman06]

@Apoc897 i put in a new link

[franzken]

how can a man have enought guts to jump from space to the earth that i do not know.. RESPECT!

[scoota111]

Did you seriously rip off the Boards of Canada video and cut out the surfing bit?

Because originally, Kittinger landed in the desert. That bit in the end with somebody falling into the ocean is exclusive to the Boards of Canada video.

[diabolusgtp]

esta filmacion la vi en un documental de discovery channel, cuando pasaban documentales serios, y me acuerdo que casi me pongo a llorar por el coraje que demuestra este hombre, increible filmacion vale oro!

[Orfeus2009]

Talking with God!!!!

[bucketofpower]

This Kittinger vid is from Boards of Canada - Dayvan Cowboy, even though he didn't land in water.

As for the musical track, Clint Mansell - "Together We Will Live Forever" from "The Fountain" soundtrack. Not sure where the incorporation of the vocals came from.

[TheCam152]

Can anyone tell me the name of the song and artist? So I can download it on iTunes?

[11karg]

i want to do this. if anyone wants to help message me, funds are limited, but if i can jump at anytime it shouldnt be a problem right?

[Sandro495]

Imagine if he jumped and just stayed suspended because he waited too long? How much would that have sucked lol

[TheChainsawSound]

I've been looking for this song for a long time, thank you for uploading it again. I thought I'd lost it forever. Respek.

[aj1986917]

god that would have been cool

[RtZ10]

No, he didnt land in the water!!

[ArkansasFresh]

I like how dude jumped ONTO the earth.