Parachutist Arthur Starnes Makes High Altitude Jump For Science

Arthur Starnes, a 43-year-old parachute jumper, embarks on a scientific mission to jump from 29,300 feet, carrying 100 pounds of equipment. The jump aims to gather valuable data for American pilots flying high-altitude fighter planes. Starnes' wife and son watch anxiously as he successfully opens his parachute 1,500 feet from the ground, completing a five-mile fall in 116 seconds.

What significant information was Starnes' jump intended to provide?

How long did it take Starnes to reach the ground after jumping?