International   

Parachuting from space

PARIS: Michel Fournier prides himself on being one of France’s oldest and most ambitious daredevils. The former army colonel has sold all his possessions to fund a “human and scientific operation” that to some would seem like suicidal folly.

The pensioner is preparing to be pulled to a height of 40 km above earth in a helium-filled weather balloon before leaping out and tumbling back down at 1,600 kmph.

In one jump, he hopes to break four world records: the highest altitude achieved by a human in a balloon, the highest parachute jump, and the longest and fastest freefalls.

A special spacesuit will guard his ears against the sonic boom he will create, and protect against minus-100 degree celcius temperatures. He is undeterred that the last person to attempt the jump in the 1960s died. Fournier arrives in Canada next week to prepare for the jump next spring— © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2007

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Pakistan assesses Boucher visit
Sri Lanka displaced vulnerable: report
Ahmadinejad Kabul visit jolts the U.S.
Fiji poll in March 2009: Premier
Mbeki’s backing for Mugabe may make West change tack
Parachuting from space
Deal will be terminated if India conducts test: U.S.
Attack on magazine office condemned
Multi-dimensional Singapore exhibition shines the spotlight on India
Aishwarya’s wax model unveiled

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu