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Forum:Free Space
Topic:Alan Eustace and Paragon StratEx near-space dive
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alanh_7The New York Times report and video.
The jump was made by Alan Eustace, 57, a senior vice president of Google. At dawn he was lifted from an abandoned runway at the airport here by a balloon filled with 35,000 cubic feet of helium.

For a little over two hours, the balloon ascended at speeds up to 1,600 feet per minute to an altitude of more than 25 miles. Mr. Eustace dangled underneath in a specially designed spacesuit with an elaborate life-support system. He returned to earth just 15 minutes after starting his fall.

nasamadAmazing stuff. Not sure the ride up looked very comfortable, but then if the orbiter crews could lay on their back for hours on end I'm sure two hours on your front is manageable.

Looking forward to seeing more footage and finding out more.

(I still have to score Felix higher for landing style though. )

NovaRobI had heard nothing about this before today, but one headline mentioned "stealthy parachute jump," so they did a good job keeping it secret until he succeeded.

I must admit, I'm still a little (pleasantly) taken by surprise.

The New York Times story states that Mark Kelly was in attendance.

Robert PearlmanMark Kelly is director of flight crew operations for World View Enterprises, which has now acquired the technology used in this jump.
Landmark Space Dive Sets Stage For World View Space Flights

Following the record-breaking 135,908-foot space dive accomplished by Google's Alan Eustace and the Paragon StratEx team, World View Enterprises, the commercial balloon spaceflight company, has acquired the technology from this history-making project. The acquisition will advance the company's mission to pioneer a new frontier at the edge of space for travel and research.

"We'd like to congratulate Paragon Space Development Corporation and its StratEx team along with Alan Eustace and all involved on their exceptional work," said Taber MacCallum, World View's chief technology officer, and Paragon's founding CEO and CTO. "Without the efforts of these companies and Alan's dedication, the project would not have been possible. World View is proud to carry the StratEx technology into the future by leveraging the incredible experience gained into a new era of space flights."

For StratEx, Eustace was lifted to his peak altitude of 135,908 feet via high-altitude balloon, the same ballooning system that World View will employ to launch sailing-like journeys to the edge of space. While World View's voyagers will ascend within a luxuriously engineered pressurized capsule, Eustace was kept safe from the elements in a self-contained space suit system designed with the goal of allowing manned exploration of the stratosphere above 100,000 feet. Paragon, which specializes in extreme environmental control systems, initiated the project with Eustace and worked with him to develop, build and manage the system used during the incredible space dive.

As former Paragon executives, World View founders Taber MacCallum and Jane Poynter played integral roles in the success of StratEx. MacCallum served as CEO and CTO of Paragon and played a key role in the development of the StratEx program, then transitioned to the critical role of chief safety officer, working with the team to ensure Eustace's wellbeing. MacCallum will leverage this experience from the successful StratEx dive in his role as the chief technology officer for World View. Jane Poynter, World View's CEO, served as the president and chairwoman of Paragon throughout the development of the StratEx program.

The patent-pending technology developed for StratEx has been acquired by World View for future space travel and research flights, adding depth to World View's systems for launch, recovery, communications, ballooning, tracking, mission control, avionics and aerodynamics, among others.

World View will have Voyagers floating peacefully to the edge of space for a one-to-two-hour space cruise within a luxury capsule complete with bar and lavatory, which is transported by a parafoil and high-altitude balloon. Guests will enjoy 360-degree vistas of the world's most spectacular panorama, marveling at the beauty of the Earth below, watching the sun slowly rise above the curvature of our planet suspended in a vast, black and infinite universe. They can even share the experience in real-time with loved ones thanks to in-flight Internet access.

Individuals who wish to be a pioneer in this exciting new era of space exploration can reserve their World View flight with a $5,000 deposit; the remaining $70,000 is due six months prior to their flight.

In addition to offering breathtaking experiences for Voyagers, the capabilities being developed by World View will offer unprecedented and affordable access to the near-space environment for educators, researchers, private companies and government agencies alike.

World View has a number of strategic partners in this endeavor. Paragon Space Development Corporation has decades of experience developing life support and space-related technologies. Paragon is leading the design and development of the World View space capsule. United Parachute Technologies, Performance Designs and MMIST, all leaders in pioneering parachute technology, are providing expertise and support for the development of the flight system's airborne guidance unit and innovative parafoil.
NovaRobWell, Mark Kelly's connection makes more sense now, even though his presence made some sense anyway.
cspgAny explanation as to why his fall was slower than Baumgartner's? 1322.9 km/h instead of 1357.6 km/h for Felix.
BlackarrowSlightly denser air that day?

More drag from his particular suit?

Robert PearlmanPerhaps body position was also a factor.

Baumgartner entered an uncontrolled spin for about a minute of his free fall, whereas Eustace is said to have performed only two slow backflips before his parachute righted him.

328KFAccording to the US Parachute Association's official observer, Eustace deployed a stabilizing drogue chute during the freefall. This stabilized him but also produced more drag at the lower altitudes, resulting in a longer, slower freefall.
Robert PearlmanAh, and that would be why the release stated Eustace set the world and national record for free fall under a drogue chute.
MarylandSpaceAwesome and imaginative! Congratulations.
SpaceyInMNI've read several ignorant comments in online articles since this took place, including ones alluding that this wouldn't have been possible if Mr. Eustace wasn't very wealthy. Of course it wouldn't. So what? Money or not, very, very few people would have the moxie to float suspended under a balloon to that height and then free fall 26 miles. Heck, I get shaky just getting on my roof.

I commend Mr. Eustace for his tremendous courage, and also for his comments expressing aspirations that this will further the scientific research of the stratosphere. I hope more people with the financial means to promote science will do so, in whatever capacity they are able.

Does anyone know if a full video of his free fall be available at some point?

DeepSea
quote:
Originally posted by SpaceyInMN:
I've read several ignorant comments in online articles since this took place, including ones alluding that this wouldn't have been possible if Mr. Eustace wasn't very wealthy. Of course it wouldn't. So what?
The usual chip-on-the-shoulder from predictable quarters.

There seems to be a fair amount of revisionism as well. I find it hilarious that certain people are holding this up as somehow being an example of corporate greed, completely forgetting that Felix's effort was funded by Red Bull.

gliderpilotukRemarkably low key and fanfare-free for a change. Not much mention of Eustace's prior parachute or free fall experience. Did he have any?
KSCartistCongratulations to Mr. Eustace. I find it interesting that both his and Baumgartner's efforts had Jon Clark as an advisor. Apparently for 10 months in 2012 Clark was consulting on both simultaneously.
onesmallstepI guess Baumgartner's suit and gondola on display at Udvar-Hazy will have company soon!
YankeeClipperThis is how the US Parachute Association reported the event.
Alan Eustace, D-7426, Bests High-Altitude World Record
(updated 10/24/14)

On October 24, USPA member Alan Eustace, D-7426, set the World Record for Highest Altitude Skydive by jumping from a balloon at 135,890 feet over Roswell, New Mexico. The jump also earned Eustace the world records for vertical speed (822 mph, Mach 1.23) and freefall distance (123,414 feet) attained with a drogue/stabilizing device. The feat broke the high-altitude record of 127,852 feet that Felix Baumgartner achieved during the Red Bull Stratos Project in October 2012. USPA Director of Competition James Hayhurst served as an official observer for both jumpers' attempts. Hayhurst submitted Eustace's preliminary claims for all three records through the National Aeronautics Administration to international skydiving's governing body, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in Lausanne, Switzerland.

CLASSIFICATION: Class G—Parachuting

Sub-class: G-2 (Performance Records)
Category: General
Group: Altitude/Fall Records
Type of record: Exit Altitude
Location: Roswell, NM (USA)
Performance: 41,420 meters (135,890 feet)
Parachutist: Alan Eustace (USA)
Date: 24.10.2014

Sub-class: G-2 (Performance Records)
Category: General
Group: Altitude/Fall Records
Type of record: Distance of Fall with drogue/stabilizing device
Course/location: Roswell, NM (USA)
Performance: 37,617 meters (123,414 feet)
Parachutist: Alan Eustace (USA)
Date: 24.10.2014

Sub-class: G-2 (Performance Records)
Category: General
Group: Vertical Speed Records
Type of record: Vertical Speed with drogue/stabilizing device
Course/location: Roswell, NM (USA)
Performance: 1,321 km/hour (821 MPH, MACH 1.23)
Parachutist: Alan Eustace (USA)
Date: 24.10.2014

sev8nWhile Projects Manhigh I and II were launched from Minnesota in the months of June and August, Manhigh III, Baumgartner and Eustace all launched from New Mexico in the month of October.

Is there something unique about the weather conditions in New Mexico in October? Or is this merely a coincidence?

yeknom-ecapsAny idea when his landing took place? Every write up on this has "70 miles from the launch site" or near Roswell (near being 70 miles?).

Any flight path for the balloon?

Lou ChinalAs far as Alan Eustace's prior parachute experience goes, he had a "D" license in May 1983. That's when he signed my log book.
Robert PearlmanParagon Space Development Corporation release
Paragon StratEx Team Receives Official Record-Breaking Numbers

Alan Eustace and the Paragon StratEx Team made stratospheric exploration history on October 24, 2014

Today (April 14), almost 6 months after Alan Eustace made his near-space dive from a high altitude balloon, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), the World Air Sports Federation, has released his official parachuting world record breaking numbers.
  • Exit Altitude
    • 41,422 m (Previous record 38,969.4 set by Felix Baumgartner of Australia)

  • Distance fall with drogue device
    • 37,623 m
    • No previous record set

  • Vertical speed with a drogue device
    • 1320 km/h
    • No previous record set
The balloon, spacesuit and accompanying support systems were developed by Paragon and its StratEx technical team, comprised of ILC Dover (ILC); United Parachute Technologies (UPT); ADE Technologies Consulting, LLC (ADE); Dr. Jonathan Clark, M.D.; Julian Nott; Sreenivasan Shankarnarayan; Don Day; and World View Enterprises, Inc.

A StratEx team goal was to develop a self-contained spacesuit system that allows for manned exploration of the stratosphere above 100,000 feet. Such a system has a wide range of applications in stratospheric science, development of spaceship crew egress and the study of suited aerodynamics above Mach 1. On October 24th, this goal was achieved as Eustace pushed the limits of human exploration, accomplishing a new way to explore a largely unexplored part of our planet.

Grant Anderson, President and CEO and co-founder of Paragon, said, "Although Alan did not go into this project expecting to break records, these official numbers are certainly something for the entire StratEx team to celebrate. The possibilities are endless for what humans can do in the Stratosphere and this program was an important step in demonstrating that."
spacemanWhile touring the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center last week, I snapped a couple of photos showing the one of a kind suit used by Alan Eustace. I'm sorry to say this record passed me by at the time. Fantastic achievement more publicity required.

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