Free fall from space

Free Fall From Space: Taking the Plunge into Stratospheric Jumps

Ever dreamt of jumping from space? It’s a wild thought, right? When we talk about “space diving,” most of us picture leaping from way beyond Earth’s atmosphere. But the reality, at least so far, is that these incredible jumps happen from the stratosphere. Think of it as the second layer of Earth’s atmospheric playground. These daredevils aren’t just thrill-seekers; they’re pushing the limits of what humans can endure and giving us crucial data for improving aerospace tech.

Just Where Is “Space,” Anyway? And What’s the Dive Like?

So, where does space actually begin? Good question! The Kármán line, about 62 miles above sea level, is often considered the edge of space. But nobody’s successfully jumped from that height yet. Interestingly, the U.S. Air Force gives astronaut wings to those who climb past 50 nautical miles (around 300,000 feet). So, when we say “space diving,” we’re usually talking about skydiving from near-space conditions within the stratosphere. Still pretty darn impressive, if you ask me!

A Quick Look Back: History in the Making

The Early Days

The idea of space diving has been floating around for a while. Believe it or not, it popped up in a sci-fi novel way back in 1934! But the real milestones started happening in the mid-20th century with a project called Excelsior.

Project Excelsior (1959-1960): This is where it all began. Captain Joseph Kittinger of the U.S. Air Force took a series of high-altitude jumps as part of Project Excelsior. The goal? To see what happens to pilots who have to eject at super high altitudes. On August 16, 1960, Kittinger made history, jumping from a staggering 102,800 feet (that’s over 19 miles up!). He free fell for an unbelievable 4 minutes and 36 seconds. Talk about an adrenaline rush! And get this: he had to endure temperatures that plunged to -94°F (-70°C). Brrr! His record stood for more than half a century.

Breaking the Sound Barrier

Red Bull Stratos (2012): Fast forward to 2012, and Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner decided to take things to a whole new level. On October 14th, he jumped from 127,852 feet (almost 24 miles!), shattering Kittinger’s altitude record. But that’s not all. Baumgartner became the first human to break the sound barrier in free fall, hitting a mind-blowing top speed of 843.6 mph (1,357.6 km/h). His free fall lasted 4 minutes and 19 seconds. The Red Bull Stratos project wasn’t just a publicity stunt, though. It was a real scientific mission, gathering tons of valuable data about how the human body reacts and how aerospace tech can improve. And get this: an estimated eight million people watched the jump live on YouTube!

The Records Keep Tumbling

Alan Eustace (2014): Just a couple of years later, in 2014, Google executive Alan Eustace decided to join the party. On October 24th, he broke Baumgartner’s record for the highest free fall jump, soaring to 135,898 feet (that’s over 25 miles!). Eustace’s jump, part of the Stratospheric Explorer mission, saw him reach a speed of 822 mph (1,323 km/h) and lasted about 4 minutes and 27 seconds. What’s really cool is that Eustace self-funded his project and used a scuba-diving-style pressure suit. This showed that you don’t necessarily need a super-expensive pressurized capsule to make these kinds of jumps.

The Science Behind the Thrill

What It’s Like Up There

The stratosphere is no joke. It throws some serious challenges your way, which is why you need specialized gear and training. Up above 100,000 feet, you’re dealing with:

• Crazy Low Air Pressure: The air pressure is less than 1% of what it is at sea level. Without a pressurized suit, you wouldn’t stand a chance.
• Freezing Temperatures: We’re talking temperatures that can drop to -70°C (-94°F). You’d be an ice cube in seconds!
• Super Thin Atmosphere: The air is so thin that there’s hardly any resistance. That means you can accelerate to some seriously insane speeds.

The Physics of Plunging to Earth

• Gravity’s Pull: Free fall is all about gravity. It’s what pulls you back to Earth, accelerating you at about 9.8 meters per second squared.
• Fighting the Air: As you fall, you’re also colliding with air molecules. This creates drag, which pushes back against your motion. Eventually, you reach what’s called terminal velocity. That’s when the drag force equals the force of gravity, and you stop accelerating.
• Breaking the Sound Barrier: Baumgartner’s jump proved that a human can break the sound barrier in free fall. Because the air is so thin in the stratosphere, there’s less resistance, making it possible to reach those speeds.

The Body’s Reaction

Free fall is a shock to the system. It triggers your body’s “fight or flight” response, which leads to all sorts of changes:

• Your heart starts racing, and your blood pressure goes up.
• You might experience tunnel vision.
• Your muscles tense up.
• Your body floods with adrenaline.

One of the biggest dangers is the risk of a flat spin.

What’s Next for Space Diving?

Even though we haven’t seen anyone jump from beyond the Kármán line just yet, the future of space diving is looking bright. Scientists and engineers are constantly working to improve the technology and safety measures. These high-altitude jumps are giving us invaluable information about how the human body reacts to extreme conditions. This knowledge will help us develop better spacesuits and safety equipment for future space explorers. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll all have the chance to take the plunge!