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Among other things, the record holder (Joseph Kittinger, 1960), blacked out before his freefall was over. No one ever figured out for sure what happened, but the assumption is that one of the helmet tiedown cords wrapped around his neck. Because he blacked out, his chute deployed automatically at 20,000 feet. Since Baumgartner maintained consciousness, he probably pulled his chute manually when he wanted to, rather than waiting unconscious until the last safe moment.
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'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.'
-TJ
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