HIGH ANXIETY
CHERYL STEARNS' QUEST FOR THE FREE FALL RECORD
by Jason Zasky

Forget about bungee jumping. Forget about skydiving from an airplane. How about leaping from a balloon gondola at an altitude of 130,000 feet? Those of you with a fear of heights might be aghast, but it’s true. Sometime in the next two years, Cheryl Stearns, a 46-year-old US Airways captain and 21-time U.S. women’s parachuting champion, will attempt to free fall from 24 miles above the earth. Is Stearns simply taking extreme sports to a new level? Hardly. With considerable technological hurdles to overcome, Stearns says the mission—dubbed Stratoquest—is dedicated to scientific research and education.

Wing And A Prayer
On one hand, Stearns isn’t entering totally uncharted territory. In 1960, U.S. Air Force project engineer Joe W. Kittinger, Jr. made an experimental jump from 102,800 feet, a mark that still stands as the high altitude record. According to Stearns, Kittinger’s jump was gutsy, if not downright crazy, noting that skydiving was still in its infancy at the time, and that scientists had less than complete knowledge of atmospheric conditions. "He is very lucky to have survived," claims Stearns. "He went into the unknown. They hadn’t put a man on the moon yet and he was in an environment they didn’t know about," she says.

In contrast, Stearns notes that she has extensive skydiving experience and a host of innovations to aid her training. Not only has Stearns executed more jumps than any woman in the world, she is the world record holder in women’s accuracy parachuting and the first female member of the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights parachute team. "I’ve got over 120 hours of free fall time in the air," reminds Stearns. "Joe had some 30 jumps to his name [in 1960]." Also, scientific advancements now allow Stearns to simulate the conditions she might experience at high altitudes. "Forty-two years later we’re in a different situation," claims Stearns. "With chambers and wind tunnels we have a really good idea what it will be like."

Dangerous Sports Gear (No Fear)
In order to survive a free fall from 130,000 feet, Stearns will require a specially designed pressurized suit—an off-the-rack astronaut suit won’t suffice—one that took fourteen years and $6 million to design. First, the suit must protect Stearns from the elements and allow her to breathe in what can only be described as a hostile environment. Decreased air pressure, extremes in temperature and solar radiation are among the potentially fatal conditions she must be concerned about.

The suit must also be able to withstand the stresses presented by a top speed of 900 miles per hour, meaning that it must compensate for the shock waves associated with the speed of sound. "The suit will have to be built like an airplane," says Stearns. "In order for a plane to go through Mach speed it has to be built properly from a structural and aerodynamic perspective or else it comes apart."

While Stearns is mindful of the fact that any problem with her equipment could spell disaster, she has total confidence in her team and 21st century technology. "Look at the astronauts that are out flying around and fixing spaceships—we haven’t lost anybody yet," she says.

Joe Kittinger leaps from 102,800 feet on August 16, 1960

Oh, Chute
Technological advancements aside, that confidence belies the experiences of Nicholas Piantanida who, in the mid-1960s, made three attempts at breaking Kittinger’s record. His first try was aborted at 23,000 feet when wind shear cut off the top of his balloon.

On his penultimate attempt he reached an altitude of 123,800 feet but couldn’t disconnect his oxygen system, forcing him to free fall (inside the gondola) until his chute opened at 60,000 feet. According to information taken from Piantanida’s official preliminary report of the jump [www.stratoquest.com/default.cfm?page=14] he suffered only minor injuries, including "a wrenched left hand, a pulled muscle in the right shoulder and a small cut on the chin."

Stearns recalls the outcome of his final attempt: "The last one he only got to 57,000 feet and he had some sort of catastrophic failure. They brought him down and he was in a coma." Piantanida died in the hospital four months later.

Money Changes Everything
Currently, the largest obstacle remaining for Stearns is financial. She needs $4.5 million in additional sponsorship money to commission the construction of her equipment. "If someone delivered the cash to me tomorrow I’d be launched in nine months," she says. Currently, Stearns is aiming for an April 2003 launch—April and October present the most favorable weather conditions—from McConnell Air Force Base near Wichita, Kansas.

Jumping to Conclusions
If all proceeds according to plan the attempt should go something like this: After using a weather balloon to determine wind speed and direction, Stearns’ team will notify air traffic control to close down the airspace in the launch region. Once safely ensconced in her suit, Stearns will get inside the 6’ x 6’ gondola attached to the bottom of a 365’ x 300’ helium balloon (image a tiny elevator attached to a balloon that would just fit inside a football stadium). After launch she will drift—whichever way the wind blows—for three hours until reaching her ceiling altitude.

"Once I get to 130,000 feet I have to disconnect the life support system I’m using on the gondola and go to the portable system on my suit. Then I will jump out of the gondola at about a 70 degree angle," she says. Meanwhile, the balloon will be disconnected from the gondola; the balloon will keep rising until it crystallizes and a parachute will open for the gondola. "I’m in free fall for about five and a half minutes," continues Stearns, "making sure I’m in proper position to go through the sound barrier." If all goes well, Stearns survives the shock waves, opens her parachute and lives to talk about the experience.

She Blinded Me With Science
If Stearns and her team realize their mission, the scientific data they collect could be significant, especially concerning space technology and skydiving aeronautics. Among the most valuable data could come from free-falling through the sound barrier—providing readings on the human response to transonic acceleration and deceleration.

Space Race
Not surprisingly, Stearns isn’t the only person looking to execute a record-breaking jump. Rodd Millner, a thirty-something former Australian Army Special Forces commando, is also assembling a team to make an attempt on the high altitude record. However, Stearns questions whether or not Millner’s team has the technology to pull it off. "How many Australians have gone into space?," she asks.

In fact, Stearns claims that preparation will be the key to success—and she won’t rush her attempt for anyone or anything. "I would be afraid to make the jump right now because I’m not prepared," says Stearns. " By the time I jump there will be some anxiety and a little bit of fear, but not fear from being unprepared. I will be as prepared as possible with the team and experts I have," she claims.

High Flying, Adored
Meanwhile, Stearns relishes the challenge of trying to minimize the risks involved. "It’s the impossible but possible mission," she quips. "There’s always risk involved. The challenge is how do you make it safe and possible."

She is also accutely aware that it’s the risk takers who tend to realize the biggest successes. "Ten percent of this Stratoquest jump is for the record," claims Stearns, "but the future technology that comes out of it is the big thing. It’s like any project where people go over the edge; in the long run those people end up going further than anybody else."

LINKS
http://www.stratoquest.com (Official Web site of the Stratoquest project)