On the freefall time, the 3+ minute estimate is a bit off.
s=ut + 0.5at^2, assuming an initial vertical velocity of 0, and initial height s=8000m (I can't be bothered to convert 35,000' to m), would be around 40s.
But real world examples seem to tell different stories.
The Space Shuttle Challenger cockpit detached at 45,000 feet continued to 65,000 feet then free fell, slowly spinning for 2 min 25 seconds.
Challenger 1
Footage of a go pro falling from 12500 feet, it fluttered and spun at 7 revs per second and took 2 minutes to hit the ground. A Go Pro weights 100 grams. (Note that the footage isn't verified)
Footage of HALO skydivers in free fall from 30000 ft reveal that they free fall for a few minutes before they deploy chutes at 5,000 feet.
Surely the aerodynamics of unknown shapes are impossible to factor?
Mickjoebill