World's Highest Skydive! Daredevil Makes Record-Breaking Supersonic Jump
By Mike Wall | SPACE.com – 2 hrs 8 mins ago
This story was updated at 2:22 p.m. EDT.
An Austrian daredevil plummeted into the record books today (Oct. 14), breaking the mark for highest-ever skydive after leaping from a balloon more than 24 miles above Earth's surface.
Felix Baumgartner stepped into the void nearly 128,000 feet (39,000 meters) above southeastern New Mexico Sunday at just after 12 p.m. MT (2 p.m. ET, 1800 GMT), then landed safely on the desert floor about 20 minutes later. His harrowing plunge shattered the skydiving altitude record, which had stood for more than 50 years, and it notched a few other firsts as well.
During his freefall, for example, Baumgartner was expected to be the first skydiver ever to break the sound barrier, which is about 690 mph (1,110 kph) at such lofty heights. And this happened on a special day — today is the 65th anniversary of the first supersonic airplane flight, which was piloted by American Chuck Yeager in 1947 aboard the Bell X-1 rocket plane.
Unofficial results of the jump showed Baumgartner spent about 4 minutes and 22 seconds in freefall, a bit short of the longest freefall record, but that he had a speed of about 700 mph, which would clinch the supersonic milestone, Red Bull Stratos officials said.
About the only glitch during the jump was a problem with the faceplate heater in Baumgartner's helmet, which the skydiver and his Mission Control team worked on during the hours-long ascent. They ultimately decided to proceed with the jump despite the heater glitch, and later Baumgartner reported the heater was working.
While in freefall, Baumgartner said his visor was fogging up during the dramatic descent.After minutes falling toward Earth, his parachute deployed as applause erupted from his Mission Control.
Roof of the sky
Baumgartner's mission — called Red Bull Stratos, and sponsored by the Red Bull energy drink company — also apparently set marks for longest-duration freefall and the highest-ever manned balloon flight, officials said. Project officials touted the skydive as a "space jump," calling it a "Mission to the Edge of Space."
The officially recognized space border is actually higher. Most experts generally regard space to begin at an altitude of 62 miles (100 kilometers), or about 327,000 feet.
One of the many folks congratulating Baumgartner today will be Joe Kittinger, who set the previous altitude mark of 102,800 feet (31,333 m) in 1960 while a captain in the U.S. Air Force. Kittinger serves as an adviser to the Red Bull Stratos mission and communicated with Baumgartner during his ascent from mission control on the ground.
"I couldn't have done it any better myself," Kittinger radioed Baumgartner as he descended under parachute.
The 43-year-old Baumgartner is a veteran thrill-seeker, having leapt from some of the world's tallest buildings and soared across the English Channel in freefall with the aid of a carbon wing. But he said today's historic jump should do more than just etch his name in the record books.
"Red Bull Stratos is an opportunity to gather information that could contribute to the development of life-saving measures for astronauts and pilots — and maybe for the space tourists of tomorrow," Baumgartner said in a statement before his leap. "Proving that a human can break the speed of sound in the stratosphere and return to Earth would be a step toward creating near-space bailout procedures that currently don’t exist."
Liftoff for Red Bull Stratos
Baumgartner's 55-story helium-filled balloon lifted off from Roswell, N.M. around 9:30 a.m. local time today (11:30 a.m. EDT; 1530 GMT), carrying the daredevil aloft in his custom-built 2,900-pound (1,315 kilograms) capsule.
The balloon was originally supposed to take off Monday (Oct. 8), but that launch, and another attempt Tuesday (Oct. 9), were called off because of gusting winds. Even moderate breezes can damage the enormous balloon, which is made of material 10 times thinner than a plastic sandwich bag, Red Bull Stratos officials have said.
Some of the daredevil's close friends and family — including his parents, Felix and Eva — made the trip from Austria to witness his record-breaking leap, mission officials said.
"I know he is perfectly prepared," Eva Baumgartner said in a statement before her son's jump, which he had spent five years readying for. "I am happy that he can do this; he worked hard for it. It is his childhood dream coming true."
Baumgartner worked up to today's leap in a stepwise fashion, jumping from 71,581 feet (21,818 m) this past March and then from 97,146 feet (29,610 m) on July 25.
Space Jump: How Felix Baumgartner's Record-Breaking Supersonic Skydive Works.
Credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com contributor. The daredevil's jump from 120,000 feet altitude requires the use of a space suit due to the low temperature and thin air. 
Kittinger Greets Baumgartner: USAF Col (ret) Joe Kittinger of the United States greets pilot Felix Baumgartner of Austria during the preparations for the final manned flight of the Red Bull Stratos mission in Roswell, New Mexico, USA on October 7, 2012.
Baumgartner Works Out on Stationary Bike: Felix Baumgartner of Austria works out in a gym during the preparations for the final manned flight of the Red Bull Stratos mission in Roswell, New Mexico, USA on October 7, 2012.
Red Bull Stratos Press Conference: Journalists attend a press conference at the media center prior to the final manned flight of Red Bull Stratos in Roswell, New Mexico, USA on October 8, 2012.
This screenshot from Red Bull Stratos' webcast shows the capsule that will carry skydiver Felix Baumgartner to a height of 23 miles (37 km) for his record-setting attempt at the world's highest skydive, a supersonic jump.
Baumgartner Salutes: Pilot Felix Baumgartner of Austria salutes on his way to his capsule during the preparation for the final manned flight of Red Bull Stratos in Roswell, New Mexico, USA on October 6, 2012. In the background: high performance director Andy Walshe of Australia and life support engineer Mike Todd of the United States.
Balloon Inflation: This still from a Red Bull Stratos webcast shows ground crew members inflating the 55-story helium balloon that will carry daredevil Felix Baumgartner to his 23-mile target altitude for his supersonic skydive, which would be the world's highest skydive.
Red Bull Stratos Weather Balloon: Weather conditions are still favorable for launching Felix Baumgartner's space jump try this morning (Oct. 9, 2012). ATA Aerospace along with meteorologist Don Day released a weather balloon this morning resembling a mini version of Felix’s balloon, which carries a radiosonde into the stratosphere to analyze weather conditions over Roswell, NM.
Baumgartner's Balloon Launches: The balloon carrying daredevil Felix Baumgartner ascends to begin his attempt to break multiple skydiving world records.
Red Bull Stratos: Balloon at 100,000 Ft.: The balloon carrying skydiver Felix Baumgartner up 23 miles (37 km) passes the 100,000-foot mark during the Red Bull Stratos mission to break the record for the world's highest skydive on Oct. 14, 2012.
Red Bull Stratos: New Mexico Sunrise: A camera inside daredevil Felix Baumgartner's Red Bull Stratos capsule captures New Mexico sunrise on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, during prelaunch preparations for an attempt to set make the world's highest skydive.
Red Bull Stratos Capsule View: This still image of a Red Bull Stratos webcast shows the capsule carrying daredevil Felix Baumgartner up 23 miles (37 km) to make the world's highest skydive, a supersonic leap, above Roswell, N.M., on Oct. 14, 2012.
Baumgartner Prepares to Leap: Felix Baumgartner stands poised on the edge of his capsule, preparing to leap from higher than any skydiver before.
Baumgartner Jumps: Felix Baumgartner makes the highest skydive ever Oct. 14, 2012.
Baumgartner's Parachute: After freefalling for more than 4 minutes, Felix Baumgartner slows his descent via parachute on Oct. 14, 2012.
Baumgartner Lands: Felix Baumgartner kneels on the ground after landing safely from the highest skydive ever.
All Photo Credit goes to the photographers of Red Bull Stratos
Data and story from the Space.com, Re-composed by SNUMA WM - October 14, 2012 |
This press writer keeps saying that Felix Baumgartner is a "daredevil."
The press guys always tend to exaggerate the thing, sometimes in a wrong stupid way.
The word "daredevil" carrys a connotation of something "foolish, stupid, senseless, or outrageous."
As you see, Felix Baumgartner is not so at all.
He has carefully studied the subject in theory as well as reality, practiced the maneuvers,
and prepared himself under guidances of experts in the field.
He has determined that the success of the given task is very much realistically possible.
And then, he executes flawlessly to a success.
Of course, there are always some unforeseen circumstances that might create problems.
This can happen at any time at anywhere, even to the simple driving to your office in one morning.
For God's sake, millions of people drive to their work every morning. We don't call them daredevils !!
Felix is not a daredevil. He is simply "A Man", or to give him the honor, "He's The Man !!"
His feat is not like the stupid stunt of Evil Knievel, jumping over the Snake River Canyon.
Felix might have shown a way of survival by the astronauts in a space disaster.
Another Note: Felix was able to achieve supersonic speed (690 miles/hour but he made over 729 MPH)
because he was in the thin air of stratosphere.
In a normal skydiving near the surface, one can attain maximum 120 miles/hour in a normal skydiving posture.
The speed can go higher if the skydiver takes certain body position or uses certain equipments
but still never attains even near the speed of the sound.