Supersonic Human?
 

The French are at it again....this time parachute jumping from 132,000 feet MSL (25 miles).

That would break the record held by USAF Maj. Joe Kittinger, who did a 24 mile high jump from a balloon.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1811


You reckon they will have a helicopter filming the jump? Say....the one that made the landing on top of Everest?

Am I correct in thinking that 760 mph will not be the speed of sound at that altitude?

Correct. ~760 mph is the speed of sound at standard atmospheric temp (21C). Slower for colder and faster for warmer.

HB, speed is proportional to SQRT(temp) in Kelvin, ie no need to consider pressure or density. Just look at speed at sea level then assume -6deg per 1000ft until at -60`C or 213K. Clouds change it to -3deg per 1000ft, but i'm guessing the risk is already high enough!

Good luck! Just reading about it gives me vertigo...

Some Data on the Jump
 

The jump will be made at 132,000 ft. From the jump website, he reckons he'll go past M 1.0 in about 37 seconds...this should be around 110,000 feet.

At 110,000 ft altitude, ISA temp would be 233 K (-40 C). M in Knots = approx. (39 x sqrt K), therefore M 1.0 at that altitude would be about 595 Kts.

Helpful website:

http://www.desktopaero.com/appliedae...es/stdatm.html