Man Jumps Out Of Space Capsule 13 Miles Above Earth

Last week, Red Bull-sponsored astronaut Felix Baumgartner jumped out of a space capsule 13 miles above the earth over Roswell, New Mexico and lived. Watch the video to see details of this amazing feat:

The jump from 71,581 feet was a test for Baumgartner, 42, who wants to break the 51 year-old record of 102,000 feet set by United States Air Force Captain Joe Kittinger on August 16, 1960. Baumgartner has another test – at 90,000 feet – planned before attempting to break the record this summer.

How high was Baumgartner? (We mean when he jumped, not the night before or after, because, really, the man almost has to do some serious trippin’ to do this sort of thing for a living, right?)

Well, commercial flights cruise between 30,000 to 40,000 feet. Baumgartner jumped more than five miles above that. His descent lasted for three minutes and 43 seconds, during which he reached speeds of 360-plus miles per hour.

Remember Baumgartner next time you get queasy on your garage roof while cleaning out your rain gutters.

[Via Gizmodo]