Name: I leapt from the stratosphere. Here's how I did it
Uploaded: 2015-09-04T15:14:43Z
Duration: 14 min 19 s
Description: On October 24, 2014, Alan Eustace donned a custom-built, 235-pound spacesuit, attached himself to a weather balloon, and rose above 135,000 feet, from which point he dove to Earth, breaking both the sound barrier and previous records for high-altitude jumps. Hear his story of how -- and why.

On October 24, 2014, Alan Eustace donned a custom-built, 235-pound spacesuit, attached himself to a weather balloon, and rose above 135,000 feet, from which point he dove to Earth, breaking both the sound barrier and previous records for high-altitude jumps. Hear his story of how -- and why.

I leapt from the stratosphere. Here's how I did it

Rising to more than 135,000 feet strapped to a weather balloon, a daring explorer plunged back to Earth at speeds topping 822 miles per hour, shattering skydiving records and the sound barrier. Instead of a bulky capsule, a custom-engineered suit and parachute system made the journey lighter, safer, and more efficient. Years of collaboration, over 250 tests, and bold problem-solving proved that what once seemed impossible can become reality. The feat opens doors to new ways of exploring near-space with minimal, ingenious technology.