57-year-old computer scientist sky-dives from stratosphere, breaking record

Wearing a newly designed, purpose-built space suit, Alan Eustace took a ride on a helium balloon to 135,000 feet and dove back to the Earth’s surface to break the standing record held by Felix Baumgartner.

by John Tyburski

Copyright © Daily Digest News, KPR Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

First published at Daily Digest News on October 27, 2014

Bailing out at over 25 miles above the Earth’s surface is not something people typically do. In fact, only one man has done it. Google executive Alan Eustace, a 57-year-old computer scientist, lodged an historic challenge to existing records for highest parachute jump by successfully completing his jump on October 24 from 135,000 feet.

Austrian Felix Baumgartner, who successfully parachuted from the stratosphere almost two years ago, holds the current records for fastest freefall, highest manned balloon ride, and highest parachute jump. Eustace’s jump will overtake Baumgartner’s in the record books.

Paragon Space Development helped Eustace plan his jump over almost three years. The pressurized suit and helium balloon used to haul Eustace made the jump possible. The suit, equipped with oxygen and internal pressurization, protected Eustace from the cold, thin atmosphere. Eustace was released from the balloon with a tiny explosive charge.

“It was amazing,” remarked Eustace. “You could see the darkness of space and you could see the layers of atmosphere, which I had never seen before.”

The climb took almost 2.5 hours, and Eustace landed about 70 miles away from where he launched.
Eustace’s freefall lasted a mere four and a half minutes with his speed, a blistering 1,287 kilometers per hour, exceeding the speed of sound. He is only the second person to break the sound barrier without an aircraft.