Launched Into Space Without Air!

NEW YORK, July 21, 2011 -

The World Record Breaking Champion for Holding his
Breath is to be Launched Into Space……  Without
Oxygen!

Hungarian David Merlini (32) is about to face the most
death defying challenge of his life as he attempts to hold his
breath, this time in space.

The 60ft long missile is set to launch Merlini into space,
reaching the Stratopause in around two and a half minutes. Besides
having to contend with the powerful G-forces, Merlini will only be
able to breath freely up to an altitude of 15,000ft. Above this
altitude usable oxygen drastically decreases.

This is the first manned missile ever built with no air supply
on board for the astronaut, said Dr Tamás Ráth former Head of the
Hungarian Military research Institute, and now chief of launch
operations at MSPI.

The radical concept of flying in apnoea, and the reduced air
supply is expected to save almost 1/3 of the take-off weight of the
aircraft.

To survive Merlini will have to hold his breath until he
re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere and reaches an altitude of
15,000ft.

The experiment has been already tested once, with a custom made
SCUD-sized missile.

About David Merlini

    Merlini started his career over 15 years ago as an escape artist. His
    resume features some of the most unique stunts ever performed, such as
    being embedded in a block of concrete then thrown into a river, being
    frozen with liquid nitrogen, or welded in a cage with tiger sharks. After
    receiving the Award for Best Escape Artist in the World, in Los Angeles,
    he started to focus uniquely on his ability to hold his breath for the
    longest time possible, starting from a few minutes, making it up to
    21.miutes and 29.seconds recorded in 2009 on the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand
    Prix starting grid before the start of the race.

References:

David Merlini Online - www.merlini.com

Wikipedia Page - href="en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Merlini">en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Merlini

Source: MSPI

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