Adrenaline junkie plans extreme leap -- from space

You've heard of skydiving, right? How about space-diving?

Felix Baumgartner is an Austrian skydiver, BASE jumper and adrenaline junkie who hopes to set the record this summer for the highest skydive ever.

If all goes well, Baumgartner will use a pressurized capsule attached to a high-altitude helium balloon for a "stratospheric flight" to more than 120,000 feet. "He will then exit the capsule and jump -- protected only by a pressurized 'space' suit and helmet supplied with oxygen -- in an attempt to become the first person to break the speed of sound and reach supersonic speeds in free-fall before parachuting to the ground," according to jump plans.

The only thing not surprising about this endeavor? Extreme sports elixir Red Bull is sponsoring the whole thing.

The jump is slated for later this summer, above Roswell, N.M. Given the complexities of the effort, no exact date is scheduled. Experts will start by looking for a perfect three-day weather window -- clear skies, perfect temperatures, no winds -- and then choose a jump time.

Clear skies are a must, spokeswoman Trish Medalen told The Times, explaining that Baumgartner will need all the visibility he can get to reorient himself on the way down.

Followers of Baumgartner's career know he has a passion for doing the unthinkable. (He flew across the English channel in 2003 using a carbon wing, hitting 220 miles per hour. You can watch that jaw-dropping video here.)

The upcoming mission, called Red Bull Stratos, is being documented online. The mission is also being chronicled by both the BBC and the National Geographic Channel for a feature-length TV film. The project has been underway for quite some time, but has been gaining momentum in recent days with its formal announcement.

If successful -- and really, what could go wrong? -- the jump aims to set several world records. Baumgartner hopes to become the first person to break the speed of sound and achieve Mach 1 in free-fall, estimated at 690 mph; to set the record for a free-fall from highest altitude (120,000 feet); to set the record for longest free-fall time (five minutes 35 seconds or more) and to set the record for highest manned balloon flight.

The Red Bull Stratos team includes international experts in medicine, science, engineering, aviation, and design, as well as a former NASA crew surgeon. But there are two centerpieces.

One is ice-water-in-his-veins Baumgartner. The other is a man who is little-known to the masses, but is a legend in the aviation community: Joe Kittinger.

Kittinger, who might be the reason the word "daredevil" was invented, holds a variety of aviation records, including longest, highest and fastest skydive, from about 19 miles up. A fighter pilot in Vietnam, he was shot down and spent nearly a year in the notorious "Hanoi Hilton"; he was later inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.

Kittinger's experience is crucial to the success of the jump, folks associated with the effort say, and he's helping to train Baumgartner every step of the way. He is also slated to be the primary point of contact with Baumgartner during his ascent.

The jump's mission statement takes great pains to point out the jump's contributions to the scientific community, including aiding in the development of protocols for exposure to high altitude and high acceleration.

Of all that and more, we have no doubt. But the real reason we're interested and why all the world's eyes will be trained on Baumgartner's planned jump? It's just stinkin' cool.

ALSO:

Clint Eastwood: Super Bowl ad aimed at Americans, not politicians

Komen exec who backed Planned Parenthood cutoff quits cancer group

Super Bowl 2012 fallout: Does M.I.A. owe Madonna and Kelly Clarkson an apology?

-- Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch

Photo: Felix Baumgartner trying out his space suit, specially designed for the jump. Credit: Christian Pondella / Red Bull Content Pool

Komen / Planned Parenthood dispute: What of Race for the Cure?

The dispute between Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood appears to threaten one of charity’s most effective events -- the Race for the Cure -- an annual series of walks, jogs and runs that raises money for the renowned breast cancer foundation.

On blogs, Facebook and Twitter, the outpouring of mainly negative comment has made it plain that the fundraising events, which helped boost morale as well as raise money, could face a publicity problem. Millions of people participate in the races, which range from a one-mile loop to three days of walking.

“It is my sincere hope that Komen leadership goes back on this damaging decision and does what’s right for millions of women across the country,” wrote Danielle Riendeau on a guest blog comment on the Boston Globe.

“Until then, you can bet that the pink-laced running shoes of thousands of former Komen supporters will be walking their charity funds elsewhere -- to organizations that believe decisions on women’s health are too important to be swayed by politics,” she wrote.

On Facebook, a page titled Boycott Susan G. Komen & Corporate Partners had begun to garner comments and "likes" -- from both men and women.

“I will be boycotting anything to do with Susan G. Komen until they stop playing political games with women's health. Disappointment with them is a major understatement,” wrote Christa Osier.

“STOP any further support of ANY kind to Susan G. Komen -- or 3 day walks,” wrote Rok Rokrok of Dallas. “DONATE your same $$$ to PLANNED PARENTHOOD in Support Of Womens Rights. SGK is now a political arm of the Republican Party,” he continued, raising the political issues.

Officials at the charity did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

ALSO:

Donald Trump eyes eternity in New Jersey. Seriously.

Polo club's John Goodman, facing lawsuit, adopts girlfriend, 42

Lawmaker whose nephew was a victim calls for a halt to military hazing

-- Michael Muskal

Photo: Breast cancer survivors cheer at the Susan G. Komen Orange County Race for the Cure in 2001. Credit: Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times
 

 

Court asked to reconsider ruling on bone marrow compensation

The Obama administration has asked a federal appeals court to reconsider its decision last month to allow compensation to people donating bone marrow cells harvested from their bloodstreams.

In a petition for rehearing by the full U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. argued that the court ignored the intent of Congress to shield all organ sales from "market forces" when a three-judge panel ruled unanimously on Dec. 1 that marrow cells collected from blood aren't covered by the 1984 National Organ Transplant Act.

Congress amended that statute in 2005, after the less-invasive bloodstream harvesting of marrow was in widespread use. It clearly intended that such harvesting also be covered by the ban on organ sales, Holder said in the government's appeal, which was filed with the San Francisco-based court Tuesday.

Jeff Rowes, the Institute for Justice lawyer who successfully argued the case for compensation on behalf of a group of cancer patients, their families, a transplant surgeon and the California group MoreMarrowDonors.org, said he doubted the 9th Circuit would grant an 11-judge rehearing because the three-judge opinion was unanimous and doesn't conflict with other case law.

MoreMarrowDonors.org wants to begin a pilot project to attract new members to a national bone marrow registry by offering up to $3,000 in scholarships, housing payments or charitable donations to volunteers whose bone marrow is a promising match for one of the thousands waiting for life-saving transplants.

In its ruling last month, the 9th Circuit panel said bone marrow cells filtered from the donor's bloodstream were blood parts, which can be sold legally, not organ parts covered by the 1984 ban. That law was enacted when bone marrow donation involved a surgical extraction through needles inserted into the spongy marrow in hip bones -- a painful procedure legislators feared would be disproportionately endured by the poor if financial inducement were allowed.

"Congress has not distinguished between donations of cells from fatty tissue and donations of cells from peripheral blood," Holder said in the appeal. "The panel fundamentally erred in creating a distinction that undermines the scheme created by Congress."

ALSO:

TSA apology? Two elderly women were screened improperly

Wisconsin recall: The Web casts an electronic eye on proceedings

Snow wimps: Seattle is shut down by the first real snow of the season

-- Carol J. Williams

Photo: U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. Credit: Associated Press