Alan Eustace Jumps From Stratosphere, Breaking Felix Baumgartner’s World Record

Lisapete · 24 Oct 2014 at 19:50

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/25/s...ing-felix-baumgartners-world-record.html?_r=0

Brave!

JBuk · 24 Oct 2014 at 20:24

I went on the Falcons Fury ride a few weeks ago at Busch Gardens in Tampa, ascend 300ft , tilt until facing the ground then it drops you . on the first go my butt was twitching with fear but what a buzz in those few seconds it takes to descend, I can only image how exciting it must have been to drop from the height he did and to hit 800mph , crazy

Flibster · 24 Oct 2014 at 21:34

Was hoping the video with be a bit more than that. But it certainly makes the Red Bull/Felix Baumgartner attempt to be a touch overengineered.

Spacesuit. Gopro's and a balloon with quick release.

FTM · 24 Oct 2014 at 22:09

57 years old.I tip my bonnet to you sir

Strife212 · 24 Oct 2014 at 22:15

The red bull thing was over engineered, it was a fun stunt.

WillyNelson · 24 Oct 2014 at 22:20

Makes the Baumgartner jump look like an elaborate Red Bull advertising gimmick.

kPATm · 24 Oct 2014 at 22:44

And theres me thinking the Red Bull sponsored jump was all about the jump

Wizzfizz · 24 Oct 2014 at 22:45

WillyNelson said:
Makes the Baumgartner jump look like an elaborate Red Bull advertising gimmick.

You think...?

Still, that was very, very impressive as well!

Cosimo · 25 Oct 2014 at 08:33

Very impressive. Shame it didn't get the coverage of the Baumgartner jump.

Destination · 25 Oct 2014 at 08:59

Apparently this guy is a senior google vice president. Very surprised it was so low key, unless it was merely a personal project for him, and he didn't want any sort of publicity surrounding it.

Minstadave · 25 Oct 2014 at 09:05

Cosimo said:
Very impressive. Shame it didn't get the coverage of the Baumgartner jump.

I think it's much more impressive that he simply went out to do it for himself and got on with it.

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 25 Oct 2014 at 09:07

Lets be honest anyone can do it as its just falling to the ground, the achievement is the technical crew who designed the suit and related equipment.

Efour · 25 Oct 2014 at 09:10

=XDC=FluphyBunny said:
Lets be honest anyone can do it as its just falling to the ground, the achievement is the technical crew who designed the suit and related equipment.

lol exactly what i was gonna say.

Its not like you have much say in the matter after the release is off

Gogl · 25 Oct 2014 at 09:15

Hikari Kisugi said:
Apparently this guy is a senior google vice president. Very surprised it was so low key, unless it was merely a personal project for him, and he didn't want any sort of publicity surrounding it.

On Sky News it said:

Sky News said:
Unlike the former record holder, who was 14 years his junior when he set the previous record, Google's senior vice president of knowledge chose to make his attempt in secret.

I had read he kept the planning secret, wasn't sure if the same was true of the jump, perhaps it was.

Oh and "vice president of knowledge", ha, what a title.

Minstadave said:
I think it's much more impressive that he simply went out to do it for himself and got on with it.

I don't get the same warm fuzzy feeling from him doing it in secret, I rather think it's a bit of a shame.

=XDC=FluphyBunny said:
Lets be honest anyone can do it as its just falling to the ground, the achievement is the technical crew who designed the suit and related equipment.

You say that but in some alternate universe they made a start to the day by scraping up a Gogl pancake just outside of Roswell.

benjii · 25 Oct 2014 at 09:26

I agree with all the Redbull comments, it's a touch embarrassing really. I can't help but feel a little bad for Baumgartner.

DirtyJester · 25 Oct 2014 at 10:03

benjii said:
I agree with all the Redbull comments, it's a touch embarrassing really. I can't help but feel a little bad for Baumgartner.

It was heading downhill the minute the cat jumped out the door...

Congrats Alan Eustace, an amazing achievement!

bloodiedathame · 25 Oct 2014 at 10:08

Preferred Felix's landing. Though this one was good for comedy value.

semi-pro waster · 25 Oct 2014 at 10:11

benjii said:
I agree with all the Redbull comments, it's a touch embarrassing really. I can't help but feel a little bad for Baumgartner.

Why? He created a record, the fact that it was subsequently broken by someone with less fanfare doesn't mean it wasn't still a great achievement.

It must be pretty cool to create your own sonic boom from falling though.

KIA · 25 Oct 2014 at 11:44

Need a better video. :/

benjii · 25 Oct 2014 at 13:12

semi-pro waster said:
Why? He created a record, the fact that it was subsequently broken by someone with less fanfare doesn't mean it wasn't still a great achievement.

It must be pretty cool to create your own sonic boom from falling though.

I'm not diminishing his acomplishment, it certainly is fantastic. It just makes you look a little silly when someone else does the same thing with a fraction of the fanfare.