For nearly a half century, the U.S.A. has held the record for the highest parachute jump -- 102,800 feet (~20 miles; 31 km) by Captain Joseph Kittinger on 8/16/60.
Now, Frenchman Michel Fournier is planning a 130,000 foot jump (~25 miles ; ~40 km). He plans his jump over Saskatchewan. His two previous attempts in Sept. 2002 and Aug. 2003 were thwarted by weather and balloon problems.
If successful,Fournier will (1) break the record for highest free fall; (2) break the record for highest balloon flight; (3) break the record for longest time for free fall; and (4) break the record for fastest free fall -- breaking the sound barrier as he does so.
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Now, Frenchman Michel Fournier is planning a 130,000 foot jump (~25 miles ; ~40 km). He plans his jump over Saskatchewan. His two previous attempts in Sept. 2002 and Aug. 2003 were thwarted by weather and balloon problems.
If successful,Fournier will (1) break the record for highest free fall; (2) break the record for highest balloon flight; (3) break the record for longest time for free fall; and (4) break the record for fastest free fall -- breaking the sound barrier as he does so.
Link
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