If a human were to skydive from space, several extreme challenges would arise, but in theory, it is possible under the right conditions. The closest real-world example is Felix Baumgartner’s 2012 jump from the stratosphere (about 39 km up), but “space” typically starts at the Kármán line (100 km or more above Earth).
Here’s what would happen?
Phase 1 – Leaving the Capsule (0 Seconds after jump)
The skydiver would step off a spacecraft or high-altitude balloon platform in microgravity, meaning they wouldn’t “fall” right away like a normal skydive. At this altitude, there’s almost no air resistance, so they would initially feel like they’re floating rather than falling. Even the slightest push in the wrong direction could send them tumbling uncontrollably. In the vacuum of space, exposure without a pressurized suit would cause boiling body fluids (due to lack of atmospheric pressure), unconsciousness in seconds due to lack of oxygen, and death within minutes. A specially designed space suit would be required for survival. Temperatures can also be very cold (-250°F / -157°C) in the shade or extremely hot (250°F / 121°C) in direct sunlight. A thermal-regulated suit would be necessary to avoid freezing or overheating before re-entry.
Phase 2 -Entering Freefall (The first few seconds after jump)
Unlike normal skydiving, where air starts pushing against you immediately, in space there’s no significant air to cause drag. The skydiver would begin accelerating quickly, but it would feel eerily silent i.e. no wind rushing past because there’s no atmosphere yet. They wouldn’t really know how fast they were travelling because they wouldn’t feel any air resistance or hear anything, since sound can’t travel in a vacuum.
Phase 3 – Rapid Acceleration (10-30 seconds after jump)
With no atmosphere to slow them down, they would accelerate extreamly quickly due to the pull of Earth’s gravity. Speed would increase to several thousand km/h in just seconds, potentially reaching over Mach 5 (6,000 km/h or 3,700 mph) before encountering any significant air resistance. This is much faster than any normal skydive. The human body would burn up like a meteor due to friction with the atmosphere unless protected by a heat shield or special suit. Because there’s no air resistance, the skydiver can’t use their arms or legs to stabilize like in normal skydiving. Even a slight asymmetry in body position could cause them to start tumbling or spinning wildly, potentially reaching over 100 rotations per minute leading to unconsciousness. Special stabilization technology (such as a small thruster pack or drogue parachute) would be needed to prevent this.
Phase 4 – Approaching the Upper Atmosphere (30-60 seconds after jump)
The skydiver would now be entering the mesosphere, where air density is still extremely low but increasing. The first signs of atmospheric drag would appear, creating a very faint heat glow around the body (similar to spacecraft re-entry but less intense). If moving too fast (above Mach 5), the skydiver could overheat due to friction, which is why a protective heat shield or insulating suit would be necessary.
Phase 5 – Entering the Atmosphere (60-120 seconds after jump)
If they survive the first minute, the real danger begins – re-entry heat, G-forces, and intense deceleration as the atmosphere thickens. Without the right protective gear, they would either burn up or experience fatal G-forces upon rapid deceleration. A controlled descent system (drogue chute, stabilizers, or even a mini heat shield) would be necessary for survival beyond this point. The skydiver is now in the mesosphere, where air starts interacting with their body. Friction causes a faint glow as the skin of the suit begins to heat up (but not as intensely as a spacecraft). Without a heat-protective suit, the skydiver could burn or suffocate from super-heated gases. The skydiver is still falling at hypersonic speeds (Mach 5+), but atmospheric drag rapidly slows them down. The body would feel immense force (several Gs) as air starts exerting pressure. If spinning, the forces could cause blackout or death unless they have some stabilization system. A sonic boom would follow the skydiver but they wouldn’t hear this since they are still travelling faster than the speed of sound.
Phase 6 – Subsonic Deceleration (2-4 minutes after jump)
The thickening air slows the skydiver dramatically. Extreme G-forces (up to 8-9 Gs) could be felt – potentially enough to cause temporary blackouts or broken bones. A specialized pressure suit would be needed to survive this phase. The skydiver is now in the stratosphere. Speed drops to 1,300 km/h (Mach 1.2), eventually falling below supersonic speed. The skydiver can now use body control to stabilize like a normal skydive.
Phase 7 – Standard Skydive (4-8 minutes after jump)
If the skydiver is still alive (or even if they’re not), they will transition to normal free fall. Air is now thick enough for human body control, meaning they can skydive normally. They are still falling at terminal velocity (around 120 mph). The main parachute deploys to slow the skydiver for landing.
Phase 8 – Landing (8-10 minutes after jump)
With the parachute fully deployed, the skydiver slows to a safe descent speed (20-30 km/h). They land safely, assuming everything worked perfectly.