posted 08-14-2012 06:36 PM               

New Capsule for Baumgartner with Fall Launch Date

When Felix Baumgartner successfully completed his second test jump from 97,145.7 feet (29,610 meters) landing safely in the New Mexico desert, the team was in a celebratory mood following an intensive week of weather delays. The freefall was higher than planned, making it the second highest jump in history eclipsed only by Joe Kittinger's world record set in 1960.

The 43-year-old Austrian plunged to earth at speeds up to 536.8 miles per hour (864 kilometers per hour) during a 3 minute 48 second freefall. The ascent, freefall and landing went perfectly according to plan. Technicalities from Baumgartner's first test flight were resolved, such as bitterly cold temperatures permeating his protective gloves, affecting dexterity. Baumgartner said on landing: "The more practice you have, the more confidence you have. We now have a good feeling of what to expect and are ready to go."

However, several hours later the Recovery Team reached the capsule and discovered it had sustained damage on landing. After Baumgartner jumped from the capsule, it was detached from the balloon shortly before it would have drifted into U.S. military airspace southwest of Roswell. However, after descending under parachute, it landed on a rocky, uneven surface and was thrown onto its side.

The capsule suffered damage to its outer shell, framework and other key components upon impact. It was taken to Sage Cheshire Aerospace in Lancaster, CA, where it underwent ten days of intensive testing. Red Bull Stratos Technical Project Director Art Thompson confirmed that the inner pressure sphere — which maintains an artificial atmosphere for the pilot — and key electronic support systems were intact. However certain components on the life support systems are being replaced as a precautionary safety measure. The outer shell will be exchanged using materials from a reserve capsule.

The reassembled capsule will undergo a final test at an altitude chamber at Brooks-City Base in San Antonio, TX, which recreates a stratospheric environment here on Earth. Once this test is completed successfully on or around September 24th the craft will be certified safe to fly, with the final mission set for the first two weeks of October. During this period weather conditions remain favorable with calm winds and clear skies essential for the launch of the delicate 55-story high balloon. Don Day, mission meteorologist, confirmed: "Early fall in New Mexico is one of the best times of year to launch stratospheric balloons."

posted 10-06-2012 01:00 PM               

Too Windy! Red Bull Stratos launch will delay to Tuesday

The three-day countdown for the Red Bull Stratos project starts with a one-day delay. The launch for the ultimate flight is postponed from Monday to Tuesday due to a cold front with overly strong winds.

Felix Baumgartner just arrived at the base station of Red Bull Stratos, when he got the news from weather expert Don Day. The launch of the mission to the edge of space will not take place on Monday as scheduled, but most probably on Tuesday.

The reason for the delay is a strong cold front with sharply colder temperatures, low clouds and some drizzle that will be moving through eastern New Mexico over the weekend. While the weather will greatly improve on Monday with clearing skies and warmer temperatures, wind speeds are expected to be above acceptable levels for a safe launch on Monday morning. Wind speeds are forecast to be between 8 to 16 km/h/ 5 to 10 mph from the with winds above the ground at balloon top between 16 to 24 km/h/ 10 to 15 mph, Red Bull Stratos meteorologist Don Day explains. Baumgartner will launch with the largest manned balloon in history: 550 feet/ 168 meters high at the start with a volume of 30 million cubic feet/ 850.000 cubic meters!

“The good news is that we usually have a day or two after this type of cold front moves through where the weather can be favorable for a balloon launch“, Don Day says.

The delay does not influence the preparations on site. In the dress rehearsal in the night from Friday to Saturday, Felix Baumgartner and the team will go through the 7-hour pre-launch procedure exactly as it will occur on Tuesday morning.

posted 10-08-2012 06:06 AM               

Best wishes and good luck to Felix for a safe jump.

Still unsure whether I want him to beat Joe Kittinger's record as I love the thought, that risks taken so long ago with so little equipment can still withstand all our impressive advancements.

posted 10-09-2012 10:45 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by prontouk:
Still unsure whether I want him to beat Joe Kittinger's record as I love the thought, that risks taken so long ago with so little equipment can still withstand all our impressive advancements.

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I have it live on my desktop and hope to see Felix do it successfully, today.

posted 10-09-2012 10:54 AM               

I'm told somebody's jumping out of a perfectly good balloon from 23-miles up. The theory of gravity no longer needs to be tested in this way.

posted 10-09-2012 12:43 PM               

On edit: Red Bull Stratos statement

Today, the launch of the Red Bull Stratos capsule had to be stopped at 11:42 a.m. local time in Roswell, New Mexico just before Felix Baumgartner's giant 30 million cubic foot balloon had been fully inflated and made ready for take off. From early morning the team postponed the launch due to strong winds at 700 feet - the balloon's top - waiting for the right weather window to open. The launch was scheduled for 11:40 a.m., the balloon inflation had begun, and then gusty winds picked up and made a launch impossible.

Felix Baumgartner is trying to undertake a stratospheric balloon flight to more than 120.000 feet and attempt a history-making freefall jump where he would become the first man to break the speed of sound in freefall - the first person to do so without the aid of a machine. Felix Baumgartner hopes to help improve our scientific understanding of the stratosphere and how the body copes with the extreme conditions so high above the Earth's surface. The capsule is still intended to be launched to the targeted height attached to a stratospheric balloon: then Felix Baumgartner is to make a freefall back to the earth at supersonic speed before parachuting to the ground.

At this stage the mission team is closely monitoring possible new launch days before a green light is given for another countdown.

Progress will be communicated as it happens.

posted 10-10-2012 01:09 AM               

I'm told somebody's jumping out of a perfectly good balloon from 23-miles up. The theory of gravity no longer needs to be tested in this way.

posted 10-10-2012 02:33 AM               

Felix Baumgartner is trying to undertake a stratospheric balloon flight to more than 120.000 feet and attempt a history-making freefall jump where he would become the first man to break the speed of sound in freefall - the first person to do so without the aid of a machine.

posted 10-10-2012 07:15 AM               

In challenging the current speed record, Felix will attempt to become the first human to break the speed of sound in freefall, attaining Mach 1.0 (about 690 mph). In comparison, a skydiver falling in the standard, belly-down position reaches a top speed of about 120 mph.

(Current record, established Aug. 16, 1960, and held by Col. Joseph Kittinger: 614 mph [equivalent to Mach 0.9])

posted 10-10-2012 07:34 AM               

Captain Kittinger jumped from a height of 102,800 feet, at 7:12 am.

With only the small stabilizing chute deployed, he fell for 4 minutes, 36 seconds.

He experienced temperatures as low as minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum speed of 714 miles per hour, exceeding the speed of sound.

posted 10-10-2012 07:44 AM               

Though my stabilization chute opens at 96,000 feet, I accelerate for 6,000 feet more before hitting a peak of 614 miles an hour, nine-tenths the speed of sound at my altitude.

Capt. Kittinger fell for 4 minutes, 36 seconds. He experienced temperatures as low as minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum speed of 614 miles per hour.

posted 10-10-2012 11:01 AM               

During the descent, Kittinger experienced temperatures as low as -94 °F (-70 °C). In the free-fall stage he reached a top speed that is variously estimated as 214 to 250 meters per second; in later interviews, Kittinger put his top speed at 714 mph (319 m/s). As the speed of sound is lower in the upper atmosphere than at ground level, this means he was traveling at transonic, and perhaps supersonic, speeds. Despite this, Kittinger said he had no sensation of speed until he approached the cloud deck.

posted 10-10-2012 02:08 PM               

The next weather window for Felix Baumgartner and Red Bull Stratos opens on Sunday Oct 14 - a three day pre-alert as well as daily weather updates will follow and lead into the next launch day.

posted 10-14-2012 10:40 AM               

On October 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first man to break the sound barrier flying in an experimental rocket-powered airplane. Baumgartner is trying to fly through the sound barrier without the aid of an aircraft and provide another milestone in aerospace exploration, to make future space travel safer.

posted 10-14-2012 01:31 PM               

Congratulations to Felix and the entire Red Bull Stratos team.

posted 10-15-2012 01:35 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by p51:
I have no idea when that was taken... but I would assume this means that eventually the suit will be in display there?

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posted 10-15-2012 04:04 PM               

No one who had the privilege of witnessing that jump should have any doubt about the magnitude of what took place. With an Exit Altitude of 128,097ft and Maximum Speed of 833.9mph / Mach 1.24 (provisional), this was record-breaking aerospace history!

As a former skydiver, with some experience of unstable flight attitudes and flat spins, I can also appreciate just how incredibly dangerous this endeavour was. It is sad and offensive to see so many ill-informed people in the print, online, and broadcast media refer to this jump as a "stunt". To call it that is an insult to the entire Red Bull Stratos team and cheapens an incredible team achievement.

Felix Baumgartner dedicated 7 years of preparation for this and enlisted a serious support team including men of the calibre of CapCom Col. Joe Kittinger and Flight Surgeon Dr. Jonathan Clark. Does anyone really think given their backgrounds that Kittinger and Clark would get involved in a mere novelty stunt to sell an energy drink?

Men have got killed in the past pushing this particular flight envelope and Felix was in serious trouble at one point during the jump. Anyone who truly understands aerospace physics/medicine and the risks involved knows what an amazing accomplishment this really was. The fact that Joe's records stood for over 50 years says everything about the challenge involved.

posted 10-17-2012 04:23 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by YankeeClipper:
It is sad and offensive to see so many ill-informed people in the print, online, and broadcast media refer to this jump as a "stunt".

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I think space history blogger Amy Shira Teitel summarized it well in her piece, RedBull's Stratos Stunt:

RedBull Stratos was an incredible opportunity to teach a huge audience about the past and future exploration of high altitudes and space. Having a scientist or historian narrating the jump would have brought a level of prestige to the event. It could have been less of a publicity stunt and more of an event designed to return scientific data that just happened to be sponsored by a corporation.

I can’t help but think this Stratos jump could have been more powerful and interesting had we learned the context behind the mission. In the end, I have to wonder how much we’re gaining if the public is excited by space exploration but doesn’t understand why it matters or the technology behind it.

posted 10-17-2012 04:50 PM               

Felix Baumgartner plans to ascend to 120,000 feet in a stratospheric balloon and make a freefall jump rushing toward earth at supersonic speeds before parachuting to the ground. His attempt to dare atmospheric limits holds the potential to provide valuable medical and scientific research data for future pioneers.

posted 10-17-2012 05:29 PM               

Patrick Chappatte's cartoon A Small Step For Me ... A Giant Leap For Corporate Sponsorship has a couple of suited execs revelling in the outcome and payoff.

The reality is that this jump was a huge calculated risk by Red Bull that could easily have had a catastrophic outcome. Think about it. Not so much Red Bull gives you wiiings! as Red Bull gets you killed violently in front of your girlfriend, mom, family, media, and global TV/internet audience of millions!

I'll leave it to psychologists to argue whether Felix's death might have resulted in some perverse increase in sales i.e. this is a killer drink for dangerous people and only cool people willing to risk death drink it. It's difficult to say if a fatal outcome would have damaged the brand, but advertising your brand ambassador's gruesome death live on Sunday seems like a very risky move even for Red Bull. I mean they're a long way removed from the family-friendly stunt frolics of Red Bull Flugtag with this aren't they?

posted 10-17-2012 06:59 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by GoesTo11:
Grantland.com is primarily a sports and entertainment news site, but they've posted a very good piece today on Felix's jump.

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First off, in skydiving terms a stunt is where you go out on a hop-and-pop from 2 grand (2,000ft) off a helo into a football stadium dressed as Santa Claus. Gary Connery's jump dressed as the Queen of England to open the London Olympics 2012 is a case-in-point. BJ Worth's 007 James Bond movie work is another. They are stunts.

Once you're talking about multi-jumpship big way formation dives forming above 16,000ft on supplemental pre-breathed oxygen or High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) dives, you've gone beyond stunt territory and anyone who is a skydiver knows that implicitly. That's why HALO is largely the preserve of the military. When you're talking about being at altitudes above Concorde, U-2 and SR-71, at speeds that they are capable of, then you left the stunt division a long time ago in the basement.

A leading British skydiver George Pilkington said to me in 1999 "Skydiving is a perfectly safe sport so long as you remember you can get killed in a heartbeat". He wasn't exaggerating having survived being knocked unconscious in a mid-air collision and being saved by Bruno Brokken. All skydivers learn from others' accident reports - I've seen the accounts of limbs torn off mid-air from a fatal Golden Knights tracking collision down to fatal slow-speed canopy collisions a mere 50-100ft off the deck. Novice jumpers 'bouncing' on their very first jump to possibly the greatest skydiver of the 20th Century, skysurfing and wing-suit pioneer Patrick de Gayardon 'going in' after 15,000+ jumps.

Part of this subject's problem is misperception because of terminology like 'daredevil' and YouTube coverage. People are confusing some of Felix's previous BASE jumps such as his 1999 jump off the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio with the Stratos jump. Rio was low-level into a very restricted landing zone and actually quite dangerous even in BASE terms, but basically that was a stunt. In fact around that time I seem to recall him being not too popular in the BASE community because he was 'burning' high profile BASE sites for others. I was given good advice on BASE jumping i.e. "Get your BASE number if you want, but then get out of it because all you are going to get is killed".

The Red Bull Stratos jump was NOT a stunt. If that was the case then Joe Kittinger's work for the USAF was just a cheap stunt too. In the recent past skydivers Cheryl Stearns and Michel Fournier were also prepared to risk their lives on such a cheap gimmick. Clowns - the lot of them!

Brian Phillips finished by saying that "128,000 feet is: a record that exists for no reason" - that this was about "the sense of purposeless glee". So NASA, USAF and companies like David Clark and Martin-Baker couldn't care less about the outcome? The manner of Laurel Clark's death wasn't a factor in Dr. Jon Clark agreeing to be this mission's flight surgeon? That Felix was just risking his life "for no reason"?

posted 10-17-2012 07:18 PM               

Suggesting that risking one's life somehow disqualifies an activity as a stunt is just not true.

A stunt, by definition, is "an action displaying spectacular skill and daring." Baumgartner's jump most certainly qualifies as a stunt.

Baumgartner sought from the start to break Kittinger's altitude. The difference between the latter and the earlier, is that Kittinger wasn't seeking to set a world record — that he set one was secondary to his objectives. Had Baumgartner jumped just under Kittinger's record height, the Stratos project would have failed at its stated purpose.

posted 10-17-2012 09:00 PM               

When I referred earlier to Felix' feat as being a "stunt," I was being anything but dismissive. The reason I enjoyed the Grantland article was that it emphasized why I and so many others around the world were transfixed by the jump: it returned a sense of genuine wonder and suspense to a true feat of daring, and reminded me, at least, that so many of aviation's advances in its infancy were the result of "stunts."

That said, Project Excelsior was explicitly experimental: It was intended to probe the then largely unknown survivability challenges faced by pilots forced to abandon their aircraft at extreme high altitude. It was a clinical and necessary research project.

In contrast, the fact that in the half-century since COL Kittinger's jump no serious attempt has been made to challenge it until now suggests that there was little significant knowledge held to be gained in doing so...or at least none worth the attendant risk.

As other commenters have pointed out, Red Bull have been rather slippery about how, exactly, to characterize the whole endeavor. I believe the following: That it was, in fact, a "stunt" in the sense that it served as a feat of derring-do primarily in the service of brand promotion, and that whatever practical knowledge was gained in its execution was secondary to such. I also believe that it was an accomplishment of exacting and exhaustive technical preparation, exemplary teamwork, virtuoso execution, and most of all extraordinary physical courage on the part of one individual.