A highlight reel of yesterday's spectacular skydive from the edge of space. As blogged during the event, and reimagined in LEGO and cat GIF form, Austrian parachuter Felix Baumgartner dropped out of the stratosphere yesterday from a pressurized capsule, for the Red Bull Stratos mission. The successful jump (and, landing!) set world records for the highest freefall and highest manned balloon flight in history. Early specs, via Red Bull's Facebook page: Altitude: 128,097 ft. Duration of freefall: 4:19. Total jump time: 9:03. Speed: 1137 kmh. No beans. (via Laughing Squid)]]> http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/highlights-of-the-felix-baumga.html/feed 19 http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/a-menu-for-the-intrepid-space.html http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/a-menu-for-the-intrepid-space.html#comments Mon, 15 Oct 2012 15:44:52 +0000 Maggie Koerth-Baker http://boingboing.net/?p=187436 The Guardian answers some interesting questions about the feat, including an inquiry into Baumgartner's pre-jump diet.]]> The Guardian answers some interesting questions about the feat, including an inquiry into Baumgartner's pre-jump diet. "For at least a day before the jump, Baumgartner consumed a "low-residue, low-fibre" diet on the orders of his medical team. They wanted his food to pass quickly through his body without any build-up of gas. In a low-pressure environment, the gas might expand and cause him severe internal pain – a condition known as barotrauma." (Via GrrlScientist)]]> http://boingboing.net/2012/10/15/a-menu-for-the-intrepid-space.html/feed 6