Skydiver Goes Supersonic in Record-Breaking ‘Near-Space Dive’
Google executive, Alan Eustace, broke the world record for the highest-altitude skydive on Oct. 24. Wearing a custom-made pressurized spacesuit, Eustace was lifted into the air this morning by a high-altitude, helium-filled scientific balloon. After a trip that lasted 2 hours and 9 minutes, he cut himself loose at an unprecedented altitude of 135,890 feet (41,419 meters). He reached a speed of 822 mph (1,322 km/h). That sent Eustace through the sound barrier, and he reached Mach 1.23 at his fastest speed. Eustace’s body set off a sonic boom that could be heard by the recovery team on the ground, said Grant Anderson, CEO of Paragon. [photos of StratEx’s near-space dive]
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