Red Bull Stratos

[Jay Beckman]

Red Bull is sponsoring an attempt at breaking Joe Kittinger's 1960's record for the absolute highest free fall.

Interesting piece on the camera system(s) being employed to cover this attempt Vs what they used in the 1960's: LINK.

[JWright]

I have mixed feeling about this attempt.  When Joe Kittinger jumped, it was all part of the research being done for the space program.  They wanted to determine if it was feasible for astronauts to bail out of a crippled spacecraft at high altitudes.

I can't help thinking the only reason Red Bull is doing this is as a publicity stunt...

[Jay Beckman]

I have to think they'll get some kind of useful data out of this...

I'll give you that it's the Tail Wagging The Dog to some extent but if the scientific community hasn't approached Red Bull and asked what they can do to help in exchange for some shared information, then fooey on the scientists.  They're missing the boat.