Record-breaking skydive to be broadcast at MSC today
Students passing through the Marshall Student Center (MSC) lobby between 8 a.m. and noon today will witness a record-breaking feat as Felix Baumgartner, a 43-year-old Austrian skydiver, attempts to jump from an altitude of 120,000 feet 23 miles above the Earths crust.
Sponsored by Red Bull, the event has been three years in planning, according to its website. Baumgartner will launch from New Mexico at 8 a.m., wearing a spacesuit designed by a team of doctors, engineers and scientists, in a special stratospheric capsule, before he makes his dive at 11 a.m.
The MSC set up a screen and projector Monday afternoon to count down to the jump, which will be captured by 35 cameras and livestreamed into the MSC and across the country.
The current world record for highest jump is held by Joe Kuttinger, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who jumped from an altitude of 102,800 feet in 1960 and serves as an adviser to Baumgartners mission.
USF student body President Brian Goff said a student first contacted him with the idea and asked if USF would be interested in livestreaming the jump.
I said Yeah, it would be cool. Lets see if we can get it set up, Goff said.
Goff said he has a class at 8 a.m., but plans to watch the rest of the stream afterward.
Its really interesting, he said. I really hope we can achieve this feat tomorrow.
Staff report
More Stories
New Nursing/STEM building at Sarasota-Manatee campus in final design stages
USF is finalizing the design for the new Nursing/STEM building at the Sarasota-Manatee campus to expand its accelerated nursing program, according to Regional Chancellor of the Sarasota-Manatee Campus Karen Holbrook. The 75,000-square-foot building was designed by Willis A. Smith Construction – a general contractor from Sarasota – architects and an ideation committee of around 80-100 […]
BOT finance committee approves recreation fields relocation plans, capital improvement plan summary
In a virtual Tuesday morning meeting, the Board of Trustees (BOT) finance committee voted to approve a recreation field relocation plan and a five-year capital improvement plan summary to be sent to the Board of Governors for approval. Due to the construction of the new on-campus stadium, various currently-operational student recreational facilities will be displaced. […]
Judy Genshaft Honors College not operational due to supply chain delays
The new Judy Genshaft Honors College (JGHC) will not be operational until June 12 due to supply chain delays and to conduct systems checks, according to Director of Communication and Engagement Aaron Nichols. A sign on the doors of the JGHC reads “We appreciate your interest in our beautiful new building, but it is still […]
USF protestors plead not guilty at arraignment
The USF protestors arrested on March 6 – self-dubbed the Tampa Bay Five – pleaded not guilty in their arraignment on Wednesday as a rally occurred outside the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Composed of USF employee Chrisley Carpio and Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) members Gia Davila, Laura Rodriguez, Jeanie Kida and […]
SDS Press Conference – Photo Gallery
The USF protestors arrested on March 6 – self-dubbed the Tampa Bay Five – pleaded not guilty in their arraignment on Wednesday as a rally occurred outside the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Click to read more.
New Student Health and Wellness Center opens
USF Student Health Services (SHS) opened the new Student Health and Wellness Center (SHWC), located near the parking lot of the Yuengling Center, on Monday. With 41,000 square-feet and 68 exam rooms stocked with college student health-related needs, the center will reconfigure the student health experience, according to Executive Director of Medical Services Joseph Puccio. […]