James May at the Edge of Space

Today on Far Future Horizons we follow British journalist James May (of Top Gear fame) as he realizes his life long dream of becoming an astronaut and flying to the very edge of space.

To fulfil his boyhood dream May had to first undergo three days of intensive training with the United States Air Force at Beale Air Force Base. During which, he practised safety drills and the proper use of a space suit.

After completing his training May, was taken on a three hour flight aboard a space Lockheed U-2 spy plane flow by pilot instructor Major John "Cabi" Cabigas.

May is then taken on the ride of his life to the fringes of Earth’s atmosphere, an altitude of over 21, 336 metres (70,000 feet).

This documentary first aired on BBC Four on June 21st, 2009 as part of the commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the first Apollo moon landing, and tied in with another documentary hosted by May which aired an hour earlier on BBC Two titled James May on the Moon.

James May at the Edge of Space

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