Related Sections: Future Tech Space
Diving from space at 2500 mph
This is about the most extreme sport anyone's ever dreamed up: space diving. A group of space scientists who aren't actually insane aim to give it a try by 2009, jumping from 120,000 feet in a specially designed space suit that looks like a buggy-rollin' getup, but without those silly roller skates. The daredevils hope to develop the technique not only as a sport, but also as a possible escape route for astronauts in low Earth orbit.
After they've mastered the 120,000-foot jump, their ultimate goal is to engineer survivable jumps from 150 miles or even higher above the earth. In a controlled dive, the jumpers would reach blistering speeds of more than 2500 mph, and as they begin to enter the earth's outer atmosphere, a special drogue shoot opens, stabilizing their descent and preventing uncontrolled tumbling which could be fatal.
As soon as they enter the Earth's dense atmosphere, their freefall slows to escape terminal velocity, a mere 120 mph. At 3000 feet, a conventional chute opens, lowering the intrepid adventurer to terra firma. That's going to be one brave soul who first attempts this apparently maniacal act. But with the right technology, it might just work. Sign us up.
Popular Science, via Danger Room
By danmac at 3:15 PM ON 06/27/07
Just one comment:
120 miles per hour is TERMINAL velocity for a skydiver - not ESCAPE velocity, which is around 25,000 miles per hour for Earth...
By truman125 at 3:45 PM ON 06/27/07
This orbital skydiving feat was already imagined by B'Elanna Torres in Star Trek: Voyager episode "Extreme Risk". Once again Star Trek is providing the imagination for today's inventor's and thrill seeker's greatest accomplishments, IE cell phones, transdermal shots, non-invasive laser surgery, phased energy weapons, etc.
By BAJedi at 5:22 PM ON 06/27/07
Actually the roleplaying game Traveller was the 1st to come up with the idea some 29+ years ago.
It was intended as a sport, but in the game we used it as a means of delivering troops to a planet without the orbital satellites detecting them as threats. Anything small eneough to burn up in orbit is ignored by them. How long until the military figures that one out as a means of delivering troops to remote areas without being detected?
Now that it might be a reality where do I sign?
By AxlKun at 9:58 PM ON 06/27/07
Hi,
I just wanted to let you all know that this has already been done. Take a look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Excelsior
Warm regards,
Alex
By seanet1310 at 1:45 AM ON 06/29/07
if successful this will be almost 18,000 ft higher then Excelsior. At that extra hight you can hardly compare the two.
and like danmac said. it would not be escape velocity. your not even escaping
By TEA1C at 9:21 PM ON 07/01/07
Escape velocity is the term used for the speed for rockets when breaking orbit
By Uberjohn at 11:58 PM ON 07/19/07
What about reentry? It tends to get really really hot upon reentering the Atmosphere. That better be a completely burn-proof suit
By kaborkaphone at 7:43 PM ON 07/30/07
I had one grunch but the eggplant over there.
1506 nix nix.
By NASA at 3:51 PM ON 10/14/09
Suits made from multi-layered titanium foil, with the in-between layers glassed and vacuum packed (like a thermos-bottle), would solve the heat/safety issue.
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
NASA:
Suits made from multi-layered titanium foil, with the in-between layers glassed and vacuum packed (like a thermos-b...More »