This week Lonelyleap Film highlights a historic moment in Aerospace achievement with an extra (and early) helping of Friday links, that we’re calling—to avoid any confusion—Tuesday links.
In 1960, Joseph Kittinger stood at the edge of space. At an altitude of 102,800 feet, staring down into the clouds, he whispered a short prayer before taking the lonely leap down.
52 years later, on October 14th, 2012, Felix Baumgartner ambitiously stood 123,800 feet in the air, took the dive as Kittinger did before him.
“Sometimes you have to be up really high to understand how small you are… I’m coming home now.” - Felix Baumgartner
Baumgartner managed to break three world records, including the first man to travel faster than sound unassisted, on his 4 minutes, 20 seconds free fall back to the surface.
Approximately 8 million people watched the Red Bull-sponsored jump live via YouTube. 84-year-old Kittinger, Baumgartner’s mentor, was the only person in communication with him during the mission. “Couldn’t have done it any better myself,” Kittinger told the man dubbed ‘Fearless Felix.’
Technology has come a long way since Kittinger, but the spirit of pioneers remains the same, never afraid to take the lonely leap.
