At 50,000 feet, in denser atmosphere, his air speed had slowed to 402 kilometres (250 miles) an hour and the tape recorder was picking up the howl of the air rushing by. Kittinger recorded that his legs were getting cold, that his visor was fogging over.

"Thank you, God. Thank you, thank you for protecting me during that long descent," Kittinger muttered, over and over, as he drifted to earth. "Thank you, God, thank you." His heart was beating 138 times a minute.

Now, his work was just beginning. He still had to disconnect his electric gloves, close the cover on the reserve 'chute, release the right side of his chest parachute, cut loose the left side of the 60- pound instrument kit and swing it into his lap, disconnect six hoses and, at about 1,000 feet, cut loose the right side of the kit and let it fall (it would be lowered to the ground on a separate parachute).