Michel Fournier, 64, will make a two-hour journey in a
helium-powered balloon pod up to the very void of space -- and then
throw himself into the abyss at 40,000 meters, (131,000 feet) wearing a
pressurized suit capable of withstanding extreme temperatures of minus
100 degrees Celsius (minus 148 Fahrenheit).
The plunge will take a mere 15 minutes, during which he will break through the sound barrier.
If he succeeds, Fournier will actually break four world records: for
fastest free fall, longest free fall, highest jump, and highest
altitude reached by a man in a balloon.
As he prepared to embark on the trip, Fournier began breathing the
compressed oxygen that he needs to acclimatize his body to the pressure
as he rises to four times the altitude at which a commercial airliner
normally flies.
Some have, however, questioned how safe the mission really is. At
around 12,000 meters (40,000 feet) there is not enough oxygen to
breathe and he could suffer a fatal blood clot.
At 19
kilometers up, if his pressure suit fail, his blood could begin to boil
because of the air pressure, according to scientists who have been
advising him on his mission. Should his body become exposed, he would
lose consciousness and suffer brain damage within minutes.
However, Fournier's team said he was "calm, cool and collected" in
advance of the attempt which was initially set for 6 a.m. ET Monday but
was later pushed back to 10.30 a.m. ET because of strong winds.
Fournier says he hopes to collect data that will help astronauts and others survive at high altitudes.
The former French paratrooper and his team have been putting the final
finishing touches to the mission dubbed "Le Grand Saut" (The Big Jump)
since Friday in the small city of North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
"This project is a great scientific and human challenge," said
Fournier. "This is my baby, my dream. I just want to realize my dream."
He has spent two decades and nearly $20 million in his quest to
send him to the heavens in a stratospheric balloon. According to his
Web site, Fournier sold virtually all his possessions to finance the
launch of this project.
This is not the first time he has made
a high-altitude jump. He has more than 8,600 jumps to his name and
holds the French record for the highest parachute jump at 12,000 meters
(40,000 feet).
His latest skydiving attempt comes after two
unsuccessful jumps in 2002 and 2003. Strong winds tore his balloon the
last time, but he bought a new one and the massive balloon is stronger
this time around, reinforced with three layers.
In 2000, France refused to give permission for the jump on its territory, deeming it too risky.
A year later, Canadian government granted him permission to launch from
the vast plains of Saskatchewan, which has a very low population. |
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