Embedded Files
Dr. Alan Eustace used a pressure suit assembly to ascend to the top of the stratosphere with no capsule involved on October 24, 2014. He ascended using a helium-filled plastic balloon to 135,889 feet (41,419 meters). Just for reference, this is a height equivalent to 50 Burj Khalifa or 225 Space Needles! He free-fell for just under 15 minutes back to earth, breaking the records for the highest jump and distance for a fall using a drogue chute. He reached 822 mph (1,321 kmh). That’s faster than the speed of sound (767 mph at 20°C)! For reference, most commercial airliners travel between 460 and 575 mph (740 and 925 kmh) depending on their altitude.
Pressure Suit
Pressure Suit
In order to make this jump happen, the suit Eustace wore had to house all controls, protect him from the elements of the atmosphere, and stabilize his jump.
How does this compare to say, a space suit for the moon? Find out by reading this article, which is also linked by clicking the photo with Eustace and museum staff with Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 spacesuit.
Below are some artifacts donated by Alan Eustace and his family to the museum from the historic jump.
Alan Eustace's Suit - currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.
Right, Glove, Paragon StratEx Suit
Crash Helmet, Paragon StratEx Suit
Left, Glove, Paragon StratEx Suit
Bubble Helmet, Paragon StratEx Suit
In order to verify that Eustace actually broke the record, he wore multiple gauges on his person along with ground tracking to verify the altitude.
Altimeter, Paragon StratEx Suit
Altitrack Altimeter, Paragon StratEx Suit
You can hear more about the experience directly from Dr. Alan Eustace in the video below.
Who do you want to learn about next?
Who do you want to learn about next?
Page updated
Report abuse