To infinity and beyond…well, not quite, but the future is bright for those of you who want to reach the outer regions of the Earth’s atmosphere and skydive back down to the ground.
Turns out that energy drink company Red Bull have been working on a high-tech space suit allowing those adrenaline junkies among us the chance to do just that.
The specially designed body-protector is the ultimate in cosmonaut chic, boasting a “brain-valve” that automatically controls the pressure inside as well as a heated helmet to provide a constant flow of oxygen – just imagine Bruce Willis in Armageddon for an idea of what it looks like.
It is currently being tested in California by the world famous BASE jumper Felix Baumgartner – the first man to sky dive across the English Channel – before he finally attempts to jump off a 120,000 feet from a hot air balloon the size of the Eiffel Tower.
If it all goes wrong, Felix will find that his blood boils from the decompressing low pressure as he battles minus 56-degree temperatures.
But if all does to plan, the audacious freefaller will be the only person ever to break the speed of sound using just his body. Houston, we have a challenge.
By James Haigh
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