The only experience that I can closely relate to the space balloon jumps are my personal experience jumping from a helicopter (2007 and 2008, 12 jumps total), sitting on the edge of the floor and pushing off, I had the sudden sensation (and completely irrational almost shit your pants feeling) that I was being hurtled upwards towards the rotor blades. The only reason i was ever given is that I was expecting air resistance to me falling down, but immediately I felt air from the rotors being pushed down against me giving me the sensation of going against gravity and falling upwards, which lasts for a few quick seconds then the parachute opens and you are mostly ground to a halt suspended from the risers.
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