Skydiving is the sport of jumping out of an airplane high in the sky and falling through the air before opening a parachute to land safely on the ground. Skydivers typically jump from altitudes of 10,000 to 15,000 feet, experiencing about a minute of freefall where they plummet toward Earth at speeds around 120 miles per hour.

During freefall, skydivers can control their position by adjusting their body: spreading out like a starfish to slow down, or tucking in to fall faster. Some skydivers perform acrobatic maneuvers, join hands with other skydivers to form shapes in midair, or race through the sky. At a safe altitude, usually around 5,000 feet, the skydiver deploys their parachute, which unfurls above them and dramatically slows their descent. The final minutes under the open parachute feel peaceful and quiet compared to the rushing wind of freefall.

Most people's first skydive is a tandem jump, where they're securely harnessed to an experienced instructor who handles all the technical aspects. While skydiving might sound terrifying, millions of people do it safely every year. Modern parachutes are highly reliable, and skydivers carry backup parachutes in case their main one fails.