Whats the point?

[Rawns]

BBC News - Skydiver Felix Baumgartner on track for super jump

I may sound a bit 'Karl Pilkington' but I can't understand why people/companies are pumping all this money and time into this project just so this bloke can float into the sky in a balloon and then fall back to the ground. What are they going to gain from the experience? The knowledge that man falls fast and it's cold higher up? Seems like a waste of time and money...

[DrPerceptron]

It's all about science, engineering and understanding the world we live in... granted it's not on the level of CERN , but there's still something slightly wonderful.

What was the point in going to the moon or creating the ISS?
Why bother exploring the bottom of the ocean?

You want to test materials to the extreme, otherwise, why would you bother creating new ones when they'll be vastly more expensive initially?

Red Bull have seemingly unlimited pockets, it's often a struggle to find someone who isn't sponsored by Red Bull these days - hell I know of a student here who is.

[plexer]

I guess these really high jumps and equipment very much like a spacesuit adds data for such things as escape pods/techniques for future space vehicle emergencies?

Ben

[Flatpackhamster]

The same reason that you give for climbing a mountain, for going to the bottom of the oceans, and for going to the Moon.

Because it's there.

[Rawns]

I get the whole point of exploring and discovering new things like space or the sea, there is lots to learn and discover in those areas, but this thing seems to be a bit of a wymsical . As far as I can tell, they don't appear to be testing anything new like space protection suites or materials. And I'm not too sure what they could learn from this either. It's not like people often fall seven miles.

I am curious though as to why Red Bull are sponsoring a pupil. Do they have to wear a Red Bull branded uniform?

[Flatpackhamster]

I get the whole point of exploring and discovering new things like space or the sea, there is lots to learn and discover in those areas, but this thing seems to be a bit of a wymsical . As far as I can tell, they don't appear to be testing anything new like space protection suites or materials. And I'm not too sure what they could learn from this either. It's not like people often fall seven miles.

Why do people surf? Why do they run naked through a field of flowers? Why create ten thousand different styles of shoe?

I find the idea that we shouldn't do stuff unless it's got a purpose fundamentally at odds with human nature. That's not how we're built.

More whimsy, please.

Red Bull sponsor it because they sponsor lots of 'extreme' stuff.

[sonofsanta]

Hesitant as I am to revive such a pessimistic thread on the topic... the jump is this afternoon, should be around half four our time if all goes well.

Personally I think it's fascinating - a human body has never broken Mach 1 before on its own, so the results could be life-saving for fast jet pilots and astronauts for the future. Hopefully I'll be in a position to appreciate the research myself at some point - not necessarily directly, but knowing that if my space tourist flight goes wrong, I'll be ok at the end of it!

Plus the YouTube video will be awesome

[X-13]

"Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that."

-George Carlin

[mattx]

This man has Balls [ huge ones ] so lets give him some credit.

[Rawns]

This man has Balls [ huge ones ] so lets give him some credit.

Wont they affect his free-fall speed?

[DeltaBravo]

I think this is truly amazing and inspirational; He is doing something no one has ever done before!

As Steve Jobs said:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

I'm sure if there was something you really wanted to do you would find a way to achieve it. To some people it may seem amazing and others may find it stupid, that’s life because if everyone agreed we'd live in a perfect world.

[aerospacemango]

Looks more like half one, our time....

I shall be keeping an eye on this too.... Will be fascinating to watch...

[sonofsanta]

I think half one may be when the balloon launches (was meant to be 1300 GMT) but it'll take him 2-2½ hours to ascend

[X-13]

Wont they affect his free-fall speed?

Nope.

The Universal Law of Gravitation.

[TechMonkey]

Just to add to the original part of the thread the suit he is wearing is apparently either all experimental or parts are with a view to creating an escape suit for astronauts. I think the whole thing will be a mixture of things. He wants to do it because why not. Then companies will tag on, partly for advertising and to show they are hip, cool and edgy but also to try stuff out. So the testing isn't the reason but it will be in there. There's also the medical data on a human breaking the sound barrier. Will he turn to mush, will his body handle it?