Image from Fournier’s official website.

Suicidal or Heroic? Frenchman wants to parachute from space

Michel Fournier prides himself on being one of France’s oldest and most ambitious daredevils. Now, aged 63, the former army colonel has sold all his possessions, including his home, furniture and antique gun collection, to fund a “human and scientific operation” that to some would seem like suicidal folly.

The pensioner is preparing to be pulled to a height of 25 miles (40km) above earth in a helium-filled weather balloon before leaping out and tumbling back down at 1,000mph (1,600km/h). In one jump, he hopes to break four world records: the highest altitude achieved by a human in a balloon, the highest parachute jump, and the longest and fastest freefalls. A special spacesuit will guard his ears against the sonic boom he will create, and protect against minus 100C (minus -148F) temperatures. He is undeterred that the last person to attempt the jump in the 1960s died. [...]

The jump is planned for some day in August, above the plains of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Full story (Guardian) | More (Daily Mail) | Official website