Highest Skydive
Written by John Carl Villanueva
The highest skydive was made from 102,800 feet (31,300 m) by Joseph William Kittinger II. This was performed in the 3rd of a series of high altitude jumps dubbed as Project Excelsior. Three records were set during that monumental dive: highest skydive, longest parachute freefall, and fastest freefall. All three records remain unbeaten up to this day.
Project Excelsior was launched primarily to test the Beaupre multi-stage parachute system.
The 1950's saw jets reaching record-setting altitudes. Although these feats opened up great possibilities particularly in the field of exploration and reconnaissance, it also exposed pilots to enormous risks. Tests conducted using dummies showed that a freely falling body dropped from those altitudes would spin up to 200 revolutions per minute.
This was considered too much for the human body to take. Because of this, the USAF spearheaded a research project for the design of parachute systems that would provide safety features to minimize such risks. Having such a system on board an aircraft would give the pilot a fighting chance for survival in case an ejection was necessary.
The project was launched in 1958 and called Project Excelsior. The Beaupre multi-stage parachute system was designed by Wright Field technician Francis Beaupre to meet the objectives of the project. To test the system, it had to be worn by a human being and taken to altitudes normally reached by the high-flying aircrafts. The wearer was then supposed to perform a skydive from the said height.
Kittinger performed the dives from a hot air balloon that took him to the desired altitudes.
His first dive was a near-disaster as his neck got caught in the stabilizer chute, causing him to spin rapidly. He eventually lost consciousness. Fortunately, the main parachute successfully opened automatically and his life was saved. That first jump was made from 23,300 m.
Unperturbed, Kittinger performed a second dive three weeks after. This was performed from 22,800 m and was spared from major hitches.
Kittinger did the last and highest skydive 8 months later, in August 16, 1960. This was performed way above his previous two jumps at an altitude of 31,300 m (102,800 ft). His descent lasted a record-setting 13 minutes and 45 seconds. His free-fall, which was also a record-setter, reached a speed of 988 kph.
Project Excelsior was a success. It proved that a parachute system could be designed to protect pilots upon ejection from these altitudes.
You can find related topics here in Universe Today. Here are the links:
- Constellation Project Parachute Tests: Ares I Success, Orion Failure
- NASA Tests New Rocket and Parachute Systems
More from NASA:
Here are two episodes at Astronomy Cast that you might want to check out as well:
Filed under: Astronomy
Tags: Beaupre, highest skydive, Kittinger, parachute, Project Excelsior, sky dive, skydive
