Balloon blows away free-fall record bid (CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

(CNN) -- French skydiver Michel Fournier's bid for a record-breaking parachute jump from Earth's stratosphere was aborted Tuesday when the balloon that was to carry him to the edge of space slipped away from his flight crew.

The former paratrooper had hoped his "Big Jump" -- starting 40 kilometers (25 miles) above the Earth's surface -- would set new records for the highest jump, fastest and longest free fall and the highest altitude reached by a man in a balloon.

But those hopes drifted away over the plains of Saskatchewan in Canada when the balloon escaped.

Still clad in his bright yellow pressure suit, the visibly frustrated Fournier waved away cameras after his ride slipped away shortly after 5 a.m. (1100 GMT, 0700 ET).

The balloon drifted back to the ground about 40 km away, and technicians were trying to figure out what happened, according to the team's Web site.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/05/27/freefall.skydiver/index.html

[quiet.american]

1. I have to give it to these "adventure" types -- nerves of steel.

I have heart palpitations just *thinking* about doing something like that.

[Vincardog]

2. I have been skydiving/ I loved it. I would go with this guy if I could. IT feels great

[quiet.american]

3. Fantastic -- cheers. nt