The Great Leap, Michel Fournier attempts jump from 130,000ft on Sunday

[triguyjoe 0]

I just pasted the first part of this story. The rest can be found on newyorktimes.com. The link is at the bottom of this post. He will attempt the highest jump from a ballon on Sunday. The link has pictures of Michel and his jump suit. Check it out.

He has spent two decades and nearly $20 million in a quest to fly to the upper reaches of the atmosphere with a helium balloon, just so he can jump back to earth again. Now, Michel Fournier says, he is ready at last.

Depending on the weather, Fournier, a 64-year-old retired French army officer, will attempt what he is calling Le Grand Saut (The Great Leap) on Sunday from the plains of northern Saskatchewan.

He intends to climb into the pressurized gondola of the 650-foot balloon, which resembles a giant jellyfish, and make a two-hour journey to 130,000 feet. At that altitude, almost 25 miles up, Fournier will see both the blackness of space and the curvature of the earth. He will experience weightlessness.

Then he plans to step out of the capsule, wearing only a special space suit and a parachute, and plunge down in a mere 15 minutes.

If successful, Fournier will fall longer, farther and faster than anyone in history. Along the way, he can accomplish other firsts, by breaking the sound barrier and records that have stood for nearly 50 years.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/24/sports/othersports/24jump.html?pagewanted=1&8dpc&_r=1

[BillyVance 34]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/24/sports/othersports/24jump.html?_r=1&8dpc&oref=slogin


Clicky

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[billvon 2,400]

>He intends to climb into the pressurized gondola of the 650-foot balloon,
>which resembles a giant jellyfish, and make a two-hour journey to 130,000
>feet. At that altitude, almost 25 miles up, Fournier will see both the
>blackness of space and the curvature of the earth. He will experience
>weightlessness.

Not until he exits!

[humanflite 0]

Wow.
Good luck to the guy.
That takes some major cajunas

[Lastchance 0]

I've always been fascinated by Joe Kittingers jump. I sure hope Mr. Fourniers jump comes off without any problems. Good luck to him.

I may be getting old but I got to see all the cool bands.

[LongWayToFall 0]

Do you think the jump will be televised? or possibly an online video link?

[ltdiver 3]

Now the news reports the date and time is 4am on Monday morning the attempt will be made.

http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=9374aca1-d564-4b20-a254-8bd79d50bb76

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[Matdess 0]

Hello guys !

Have a look here :
(in french but you don't need comments!!)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x55sxh_michel-fournier-et-le-saut-le-plus_sport


Have fun

[LongWayToFall 0]

I think he needs to work on his flips. Also, that guy is old! Hope his alzheimers doesn't kick in after exit.

[Beerlight 0]

Good luck to him! And I'll back up the post regarding weightlessness. Not until he exits. Looks like he will also be wearing a partial pressure suit (from the look of it in the video) v. a full. There are several areas of the body that are not protected when wearing a partial. bummer.....

[billvon 2,400]

>There are several areas of the body that are not protected when wearing a partial.

But then again, chicks dig bruises.

[humanflite 0]

Quote

>There are several areas of the body that are not protected when wearing a partial.

But then again, chicks dig bruises.

and scars

[dynamicedge 0]

If i had $20 mil I would spend every dime on doing something like this. Pure awesomeness. Good luck to him and cheers to the Canadian gov for letting him do it. Can't wait to see the footage. If it's a success he should get some buddies and do a 4 way from that altitude.

[Beerlight 0]

Quote

>There are several areas of the body that are not protected when wearing a partial.

But then again, chicks dig bruises.

Glory last forever....

But seriously, dropping 20 mil on this and I would drop a 100K on a full p-suit. MUCH safer and it's relatively easy to manage.

[ryoder 1,387]

Quote

I think he needs to work on his flips. Also, that guy is old! Hope his alzheimers doesn't kick in after exit.

If he is doing that jump with a partial-pressure suit, I'd say it has already kicked in.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[LongWayToFall 0]

45 minutes remaining, he must be already suited up. Best of luck man!

[ltdiver 3]

Quote

45 minutes remaining, he must be already suited up. Best of luck man!

What part of the world are you in? This news report says it doesn't happen until tomorrow morning. http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/local/story.html?id=9374aca1-d564-4b20-a254-8bd79d50bb76

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[BIGUN 1,055]

Quote

Also, that guy is old!

If you're not gonna respect your elders; perhaps you'll respect your betters.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[airtwardo 6]

Quote

Quote

Also, that guy is old!

If you're not gonna respect your elders; perhaps you'll respect your betters.

I love ya man!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[triguyjoe 0]

Here is the OFFICIAL WEBSITE of Michel Fournier. It has a English translation button on the top right hand side of the page.

http://www.legrandsaut.org

[voidseesaw 0]

What about geosynchronous orbit?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosynchronous_orbit

Hopefully he makes it back.

[LongWayToFall 0]

I'm just ribbing the ol' frenchy. Never said he wasn't up to the job. I was just surprised when I saw his picture, I expected someone who wouldn't require a walker to get to the gondola.

[JohnMitchell 14]

Quote

Good luck to him! And I'll back up the post regarding weightlessness. Not until he exits. Looks like he will also be wearing a partial pressure suit (from the look of it in the video) v. a full. There are several areas of the body that are not protected when wearing a partial. bummer....

Water, and blood, boil at body temp, 98.6 F, at any altitude above 62,000 feet. He'll need a full pressure suit.

That weightless thing was funny. News reporters don't often know much science.

[vpjr 1]

Did I miss it? How come the web site doesnt mention the parachute in the equiptment tab? Balloon, Check. Gondola, Check. Pressure suit, Check. Ok Lets Go!!!

[LongWayToFall 0]

No sorry I was confused, it is happening tonight. I hope he is using F111 fabric on his chutes, Going from almost zero psi to 14.7 is going to try to push air into the pack, I wonder if zero P is going to not let it in fast enough, and compress it down a bunch. At least on the way up he has 2 hours to vent the air out. If he has done his homework, he will have pressure cycled the rig though.