yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) (04/04/91)
Mitch Varnes March 29, 1991
407/867-2468
KSC Release No. 38-91
NOTE TO EDITORS/NEWS DIRECTORS
U.S. ARMY SKYDIVING TEAM TO JUMP ONTO KSC MONDAY, APRIL 1
Shortly after the Space Shuttle Discovery ends its six-hour
trek to Launch Pad 39-A on Monday, April 1, seven of the world's
best skydivers will bail out of an Army U-21 airplane soaring
some 7,000 feet over America's manned spaceport.
The Golden Knights, the Army's premier demonstration team,
will conduct one of several hundred such promotional performances
they do around the country each year. Jumping from the plane in
unison, the seven skydivers intend to join hands and form a
circle as they freefall at speeds up to 120 miles per hour. A
staff photographer -- skydiving about 10 feet above the team --
will then attempt to photograph the group with the Space Shuttle
centered within the human circle.
After freefalling for about one minute, the Golden Knights
-- all of whom are current or former national skydiving champions
-- will individually pull the ripcords releasing their
parachutes. The skydivers will then steer themselves to a land-
ing in a grassy field outside of the launch pad.
The seven Golden Knights performing at KSC are group com-
mander Lt. Col. Kirk M. Knight, Sgt. 1st Class Gary N. Mohler,
Sgt. 1st Class James R. Nipper, Staff Sgt. Chuck E. Lackey, Sgt.
Randy M. Kern, Sgt. Neal C. Beverly and Sgt. Charles W. Jackson.
The photographer is Sgt. Kevin G. Breaux.
The Golden Knights are one of three official Department of
Defense demonstration teams. The other two are the U.S. Air
Force's Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels.
The performance is currently set for 11 a.m. on Monday, but
the event is tied to the Shuttle's move to the launch pad. In-
terested news media should keep posted on rollout status.
News Media wishing to cover the Golden Knights demonstration
should be at the KSC Press Site by 10:30 a.m. for transportation
to the launch pad. A brief and informal question and answer op-
portunity with the Golden Knights may be available following the
event.
The KSC News Center may be contacted for additonal informa-
tion at 407/867-2468.james@castle.ed.ac.uk (J Gillespie) (04/05/91)
yee@trident.arc.nasa.gov (Peter E. Yee) writes: > Shortly after the Space Shuttle Discovery ends its six-hour > trek to Launch Pad 39-A on Monday, April 1, seven of the world's > best skydivers will bail out of an Army U-21 airplane soaring > some 7,000 feet over America's manned spaceport. > After freefalling for about one minute, the Golden Knights ^^^^^^^^^^ Will be deader than doornails. Permissible freefall time from 7,000' is about 35 seconds. That takes you down to 2,000'. Another 11-12 seconds takes you to an impact crater :-) > -- all of whom are current or former national skydiving champions ^^^^^^ Most assuredly former if they pull a stunt like that :-) No flames, just minor corrections. A very interesting article; thanks for posting it. -- James Gillespie, /~~~~~~~~\ Every American citizen has a chance of Edinburgh University / @ @ \ becoming president. But that's just a james@ed.ac.uk / < \ risk they have to take. ____________________/ \________/ \__________________________________________
edotto@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Ed Otto) (04/05/91)
>> some 7,000 feet over America's manned spaceport. >> After freefalling for about one minute, the Golden Knights > ^^^^^^^^^^ >Will be deader than doornails. Permissible freefall time from 7,000' >is about 35 seconds. That takes you down to 2,000'. Another 11-12 >seconds takes you to an impact crater :-) What are you complaining about? 35 seconds IS about one minute... He's about as accurate as George "Read my lips, then open your wallet" Bush... (This is not a flame on the original author, BTW - just a political diatribe.) -- ******************************************************************************** * * Netmail addresses: * * Edward C. Otto III * edotto@uipsuxb.ps.uiuc.edu * * University of Illinois * edotto@uiucux1.cso.uiuc.edu *