Skydiver Set to Make 23 Mile-High Leap Tuesday

By Jillian Macmath, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

October 8, 2012; 8:00PM,EDT

 

 

Experienced skydiver Felix Baumgartner, nicknamed 'Fearless Felix', is slated to attempt the highest and fastest free fall in the history of the sport Tuesday.
Attempting to jump from 23 miles high, the 43-year-old daredevil may become the first skydiver to break the sound barrier. The altitude record currently belongs to Joe Kittinger, who jumped from 19.5 miles in 1960 and reached a speed of 614 miles per hour.
Several experienced jumpers have since attempted to break Kittinger's record, but have been unsuccessful.
Baumgartner's jump has required years of preparation. In this time, he has made two practice runs from the Roswell area -- one from 15 miles in March and then from 18 miles in July.
Though Baumgartner will be equipped with a specially-designed suit, the attempt still poses many risks.
"At 23 miles, he will jumping through the stratosphere into the troposphere. At the top of the troposphere, temperatures could be around -90 degrees F," AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist Henry Margusity said.
"Above that, temperatures actually rise in the stratosphere. So it might be around -70 degrees F when he jumps."
But temperature is not the only threat for Baumgartner.
"There are very few air molecules at the level he is going to," said Darlene Kellner, Skydiving Instructor at Above the Poconos Skydiving in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
"Normal skydivers use air drag to control their bodies, so spinning so fast that you actually have the blood in your body get forced to your extremities is a fear that some hold," Kellner said. "Having your parachute accidentally activate while you are still at high speed could also kill you."
Kellner and her husband Don have made a combined total of more than 55,000 skydives. Don currently holds the Guinness World Record for career total most parachute descents.
Before Baumgartner sets foot in the helium balloon that will lift him to his target altitude Tuesday, his team must monitor conditions on the ground.
The jump can only be made if wind speed on the ground is under two miles per hour.
Baumgartner had anticipated making the dive on Monday, but wind from a cold front in the area forced postponement.
"I admire [Felix and his team] for being willing to take such risks to advance our scientific knowledge of that very harsh environment," Don Kellner said.
"The risks should not be underestimated; there are a multitude of them. This is an extremely expensive and hazardous attempt."
The jump, sponsored by Red Bull, will be streaming live via internet as more than 30 cameras focus in on what Baumgartner has announced will be his final jump.