Featured Image Credit: Red Bull
After being told by multiple scientists that it wasn't possible, one man proved them all wrong as he leaped into the Earth's atmosphere from space.
Felix Baumgartner said he 'wanted to be the first human outside of an aircraft breaking the sound barrier,' and that, he did.
127,852 ft up in space, Baumgartner and his team constructed a helium balloon the size of 33 football pitches - weighing 3,708lbs.
It took as many as 20 people to move without damaging the balloon, a material that was 10 times thinner than a sandwich bag.
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The adrenaline seeker's suit had to be both pressurised and able to handle temperatures of minus 72 degrees Celsius, which overall felt 'very uncomfortable' to wear, according to Baumgartner.
'You have a total lack of mobility. It always feels like you’re breathing through a pillow. You’re completely separated from the outside world. So once the visor is down, all you can hear is yourself breathing,' he continued.
After six years of preparation, and eight million people watching live on YouTube, the Austrian daredevil entered a freefall to Earth.
At 25 seconds, Baumgartner claimed everything was normal. However, at 34 seconds, Baumgartner hit Mach 1 which is the speed of sound - marking the maximum vertical speed world record. It was at that point that he began to uncontrollably spin.
'I was mentally prepared to spin but I was hoping that I'm not going to spin,' he said.
'The problem is there's no protocol. There's nobody in the world telling you "listen Felix if this happens, you have to do this."'
Baumgartner explained that he tried to move his arms to stop himself, which worked for a second, until he began to spin in the opposite direction.
'The more you fall the more depressurised the suit gets and here you can already see,' he described.
The base jumper hadn't been able to train for freefall in space, so when it happened, he was at a loss for what to do.
However, as he dawned closer to the Earth's atmosphere, the air became thicker and so, he was able to stabilise and in the words of Baumgartner, 'enjoy my skydive.'
Once he landed, Baumgartner endured a long 10 minutes before he received confirmation that he hit a top speed of 844 mph, over 75 mph faster than the speed of sound.
Reflecting on his one-in-a-lifetime experience, the 54-year-old said: 'I was really trying to inhale that moment.'
Twelve years after the event, Baumgartner is remembered for his famous quote: 'Sometimes you have to go up to understand how small you are. I’m coming home now.'
