[geeks] ultralight suicide mission

[Sandwich Maker]

" From: Phil Stracchino <phil.stracchino at speakeasy.net>
" 
" Brian Dunbar wrote:
" > We've been contacted by people who are seriously interested in using our
" > tether and lifter - you know, once it's been built - to jump from the 
" > edge of space - above 40,000 meters.
" 
" This actually reflects upon a topic I was considering slightly earlier
" today:  Is it possible, with the correct equipment, to survive [with a
" pressure suit and oxygen supply, of course] a parachute jump from low
" earth orbit?  I haven't run any of the numbers yet, but my suspicion is
" that if you had a de-orbit thruster with enough total impulse to
" completely kill your orbital velocity, or if you started out stationary
" in the first place by jumping off a beanstalk, it ought to be possible.

many years ago i made the rough calc that if you killed your velocity,
from a low orbit - 100-200 miles - in free fall you'd be going about
mach 1 when you hit serious air.

this is trivial for vehicle reentry, tough but probably doable for a
person.

now killing your orbital velocity - that's a trick.  i've read the
factlet that about half the energy needed to achieve orbit is needed
to climb to altitude; the other half is needed to accelerate to speed.
________________________________________________________________________
Andrew Hay                                  the genius nature
internet rambler                            is to see what all have seen
adh at an.bradford.ma.us                       and think what none thought