Alan Eustace’s Three FAI Records Remain Unbroken

On October 24, 2014, 57-year-old Alan Eustace wore a specially designed suit to protect him from temperature and pressure changes as he ascended beneath a 120 meter tall helium balloon on his way to setting three World Air Sports Federation (FAI) records that still remain intact.

It took Eustace a little over two hours to reach the altitude where the balloon stabilized at nearly the outer edge of the stratosphere. He and his Mission Control team began the countdown to release him.

The first FAI record was set upon his release: Exit Altitude 41,422 meters (135,899 feet).

After just 35 seconds Eustace broke the speed of sound, and after 51 seconds he reached his second FAI record: Maximum Vertical Speed With Drogue was a face-melting 1,320 kph (820 mph).

The drogue was, and remains, an essential element of parachute jumps, especially at high altitudes because a drogue adds stability. It prevents entry into a high-speed spin which might prove fatal.

Eustace sailed down in free fall to this third record: Distance of Fall With Drogue 37,623 meters (123,631 feet).

He landed 4 minutes and 27 seconds after release, a little over 100 km from his launch point.

About his ascent, Eustace said it was “peaceful” and, “You can see the darkness of space, the curvature of the Earth, the fragile planet below..."

About his free fall, “I had zero sensation of speed... It felt like I was falling in a void. I had no sense of gravity."

He didn’t hear his sonic boom, in fact all he heard was his breathing.

Then, "The moment you hear sound, it means you're slowing down." His canopy opened. "That's the moment I knew it was over."

A good skydiving friend joined him during his final descent and upon landing Eustace was asked how he felt and said, “Kind of detached. Like it was over. And kind of tired. And hungry!"

He had awoken very early that morning and had not eaten prior to the flight, only inhaling copious amounts of oxygen.

FMI:  www.fai.org/