iPad Survives 100,000 Foot Fall From "Space"

[Phillip Swanson]

Don’t see this everyday. An iPad surviving a 100,000 foot fall. From space.

The iPad might not have been in orbital space, but the video is down right amazing. Taking into account terminal velocity the fact the iPad survived that kind of fall, fully functional and intact, makes me want to purchase a G-Form Extreme Edge case.

The company used a weather balloon to float the iPad up to the 100,000 foot marker where the balloon promptly popped and sent the iPad free-falling back to earth. The stunt is an apparent marketing tool to create some buzz around the company’s products heading into CES 2012.

I wonder if they bought a new iPad or just asked an intern if they could borrow his/hers for the afternoon. The full press release is below. I’m going to watch the video again.

PROVIDENCE, RI (January 6, 2012) – G-Form, a company well known for delivering the most extreme electronics cases and athletic pads, launched an iPad clad solely in the company’s 6oz Extreme Edge case into space and then let it free-fall back to Earth.

The company released a stunning hi-def video Thursday where the nearly naked iPad is shown hanging above the Earth in the blackness of space. In the video, the iPad is lifted to over 100,000 feet by a weather balloon which bursts at altitude, then releasing the iPad to free-fall to Earth where it crash lands on a rocky hillside in the Nevada countryside. Perhaps even more remarkable than the dramatic hi-def footage itself is the fact that the iPad survives the adventure, remaining fully functional.

“As far as we know, this is the first iPad ever in space,” said G-Form’s VP innovations, Thom Cafaro, “And definitely it’s the first iPad that’s ever free-fallen from space and survived to play more movies. We are usually known for making the most protective gear on the planet,” he continued,” so we decided why not raise the bar to off the planet too.”

G-Form will be exhibiting its full line of products, including its rugged cases for electronics, protective gear for athletes, as well as unveiling its new iPhone case at CES 2012, which applies this same impressive technology to your mobile device to offer the utmost in protection. Live demonstrations will be done including dropping bowling balls on iPads, and more. Booth # 35661 South Hall

For more information on G-Form, its latest stratosphere demonstration video, or its new iPhone case, please contact PR representative Kristen Bean at [email protected] or 305-371-9736 x 123.

About G-Form

G-Form is committed to changing the state of the art in athletic and electronics protection. Founded by athletes who use the products and compete, G-Form’s new technology including RPTTM – Reactive Protective Technology is truly Impact Protection, Revolutionized. http://www.g-form.com

Media Contact:

Kristen Bean Account Manager Max Borges Agency 305-371-9736 x123

Would you drop your iDevice from 100,000 feet. Even with a guarantee it wouldn’t break or get sucked into orbit/a jet engine?

Source: 9to5Mac

[mmaboi21]

Heck yahh.. sign me up

That is amazing, granted if the front open side of that ipad hit one of those rocks it would have been toast. Really enjoyed the video and was amazed that the ipad dropped insanely fast.

[6thDAY]

there are a lot of discrepancies with that video

why is that the ipad is in perfect condition upon landing, falling from space at that speed, that ipad would have been burnt to pieces?

and how is it that it lands at such a close proximity to the reporter, considering wind currents and other factors?

smells fishy to me

[brianlg]

how is that possible? c'mon now.

[Megaorange]

wow good thing it didn't flip. If it was real

(Next thing to fix on Modmyi are the comments)

[Sludgybeast]

there are a lot of discrepancies with that video

why is that the ipad is in perfect condition upon landing, falling from space at that speed, that ipad would have been burnt to pieces?

and how is it that it lands at such a close proximity to the reporter, considering wind currents and other factors?

smells fishy to me

No it said it did not go into orbit, meaning its not going to burn up in the atmosphere and im assuming they had a satellite gps to track where it landed so they could retrieve it after such a fall.

[smoothcreak]

there are a lot of discrepancies with that video

why is that the ipad is in perfect condition upon landing, falling from space at that speed, that ipad would have been burnt to pieces?

and how is it that it lands at such a close proximity to the reporter, considering wind currents and other factors?


smells fishy to me

Apparently you don't know what you are talking about. It only went roughly 100,000 ft in the air it has to go out of earths atmosphere and then come back in in order or what it to burn up. And as far as the distance goes for it falling so close to him, we don't know how far they traveled to get to the pint where the cameras were turned back on when he said they were 70 yards away from it. Please know what your talking about before you post stuff like this. P to YouTube and look for iPhone in space by weather ballon and you will know more about hat I am talking about.

there are a lot of discrepancies with that video

why is that the ipad is in perfect condition upon landing, falling from space at that speed, that ipad would have been burnt to pieces?

and how is it that it lands at such a close proximity to the reporter, considering wind currents and other factors?

smells fishy to me

Apparently you don't know what you are talking about. It only went roughly 100,000 ft in the air it has to go out of earths atmosphere and then come back in in order or what it to burn up. And as far as the distance goes for it falling so close to him, we don't know how far they traveled to get to the pint where the cameras were turned back on when he said they were 70 yards away from it. Please know what your talking about before you post stuff like this. P to YouTube and look for iPhone in space by weather ballon and you will know more about hat I am talking about.

[Gamemaster77]

This isn't really that impressive. The iPad would definitely reach terminal velocity pretty quickly.

[Colby21]

As long as it can survive terminal velocity, you can drop it from 10,000 feet, 50,000 feet or 100,000 feet... Wouldn't really matter. All a publicity stunt to sell those ugly cases.

It didn't burn because it never left our atmosphere.

[zakspop]

It would have been a total FAIL if it were to have landed face down. And Colby21 is right. Terminal velocity plays a big part. That thing would hit no harder being dropped from 100,000 ft then if it were dropped from say a 20 story bldg. I'm surprised something didn't break because of rapid pressure change or the extreme temperature. It's like -40 degrees at 100,000 ft.

[Dealwagon]

Call me crazy, but watch that clip again.. They only show it after the fall for a second. It looks BENT like a mother. Surprised the screen didnt break with that much bendage. It did survive, I'll give them that, but it is screwed.

[dennder]

I was more amazed by the picture quality of the earth, rather than this "feat". Simply because of the ram and construction, it could not have hit the ground any other side but the tracking device. Otherwise it would have been cracked 100%.

P.S. Who else felt like "ffffffffffuuuuuuuuuu" when the balloon blew up and camera started falling?

[c0dy]

I wish they hadn't edited the fall. I wonder how long it really takes to fall from 100,000ft.

Didn't everybody do the experiment in school where you make a container for an egg, and it has to survive a long drop?

[epikarus]

im not that impressed, even the camera survived the fall without a case on it.

[thunderwolf333]

im skeptical with all the jump cuts...

[ca3]

this is great! i hate when i drop my ipad from space i always break it... this will help out! Thanks!!

[tocsoldier]

This was a careless and pointless publicity stunt. No, it would not burn up, but it poses a significant danger to aircraft. Monitoring devices attached to weather balloons are made to be sucked up by a jet engine without damaging the aircraft. An iPad would do some damage. Even if they registered the launch with the FAA, they would not have approved an iPad being attached to it.

[suicidesam]

how about that gopro??

[iRaafat]

you smart people just keep mentioning terminal velocity which was already mentioned in the article, but forgot to mention "center of gravity" which forces the iPad to land on its back due to the obvious weights on the back!

[luvmytj]

this is great! i hate when i drop my ipad from space i always break it... this will help out! Thanks!!

Now this made me LOL! Good stuff!

I really don't see the point of a super-tuff case if the screen is exposed. I would guess that the glass is the most broken part on all iPads.

This was a careless and pointless publicity stunt. No, it would not burn up, but it poses a significant danger to aircraft. Monitoring devices attached to weather balloons are made to be sucked up by a jet engine without damaging the aircraft. An iPad would do some damage. Even if they registered the launch with the FAA, they would not have approved an iPad being attached to it.

"Joe Facundo, chief of the National Weather Service’s Observing Systems Branch Chief, e-mailed that, “We don’t have any record of a weather balloon striking an airplane.”

"six-pound weight for which the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR part 101) requires that a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) be issued before the launch of a free balloon."

The facts about aircraft hitting a Radiosonde hanging from a weather ballon are that while it is a possibility, there are no reports of it happening. I would assume that an aircraft hitting an iPad or a radiosonde would result in the same outcome and it wouldn't be good.


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