Skydiving From The Edge Of The World

On August 16, 1960, Joseph Kittinger jumped from Earth in a helium balloon called Exceisior III, doing so from an air-thin height of 102,800 feet (31,334 meters).

From that nearly 20 miles altitude, his tumble toward terra firma took some 4 minutes and 36 seconds. Exceeding the speed of sound during the fall, Kittinger used a small stabilizing chute before a larger, main parachute opened in the denser atmosphere. He safely touched down in barren New Mexico desert, 13 minutes 45 seconds after he vaulted into the void.

via Computer Love