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June 28, 2007
150 Miles Above Earth
I get scared 18 steps up a ladder. That's about as extreme as I get when it comes to heights. For those who aren't pussies, how about 150 miles above the Earth?
A bunch of extreme sports enthusiasts scientists plan on attempting such a jump in 2009. They've designed a special suit capable of protecting their fragile bodies from the immense pressures and temperatures of space and I use that term loosely. 150 miles up is on the outer fringes of the upper atmosphere.
But before they make that jump, and that's an understatement, they're gonna try 120,000 feet first to see if it's possible. Hmm, smart cookies huh? The free fall could reach speeds of more than 2,500 mph. Now that's fast! Of course this isn't all for fun games. The scientists hope the suit can be used by astronauts as an escape route back to Earth. It may not be the first space dive but it's certainly the most stylish. Can I say GO GO POWER RANGERS!
via Gearfuse
Posted by tranism at 9:40 AM | Permalink
Comments
"protecting their fragile bodies from the immense pressures and temperatures of space" - dude, there's no pressure in space. Temperatures maybe, but no pressure :)
Posted by: Marius R. at June 28, 2007 11:32 PM
150 miles is still in Earth's atmosphere and gravitational pull. There's plenty of pressure moving from the upper to lower atmosphere.
Posted by: electro^plankton at June 28, 2007 11:39 PM
I think the suit would be necessary to protect the diver from the lack of pressure, the vacuum effect of space. What I dont understand is how the suit would allow the wearer to fall faster than terminal velocity, 2,500 mph is more than 20 times the maximum speed a skydiver can reach.
Posted by: colin at August 22, 2007 2:31 PM