News
Attempt to break sound barrier in freefall jump from edge of space
22 January 2010
Austrian Pilot Felix Baumgartner will attempt to expand the
boundaries of aerospace exploration with a freefall jump from 120,000
feet in which he could become the first person to break the speed of
sound without a vehicle.
Baumgartner hopes to ascend in a capsule lifted by a helium balloon to
the upper reaches of the stratosphere to at least 120,000 feet and,
protected by a full-pressure space suit, launch a freefall jump that
could exceed Mach 1.0 — more than 690 miles per hour — before
parachuting to Earth.
The medical data captured by the mission’s scientists could
promise new standards in aerospace safety and enhanced possibilities for
human flight.
The Red Bull Stratos mission also hopes to establish four
world records that have stood for 50 years:
- first human to break the speed of sound, without a
vehicle;
- altitude record for manned balloon flight;
- altitude record for free-fall; and
- time record for longest free-fall.
United States Air Force Colonel (Ret.) Joseph Kittinger, who in 1960
launched a stratospheric jump from 102,800 feet that opened the door for
space exploration, and whose records Baumgartner aims to break,
introduced the Austrian pilot to media from around the world during a
briefing in New York City today.
“People have been trying to break my records for fifty years, and
many have died in the attempt,” Kittinger said. “But I believe that with
our unique assets, an extraordinary mission team, the dedication of Red
Bull, and Felix Baumgartner’s outstanding skills, Red Bull Stratos will
succeed.”
Kittinger, Baumgartner (best known for being the first person to fly
across the English Channel with a carbon wing in 2003), Red Bull Stratos
Medical Director Dr Jonathan Clark and Technical Project Director Art
Thompson provided an overview of the mission, which will we will expect
to launch in North America with a target launch date in 2010.
“This is truly a step into the unknown. No one can accurately predict
how the human body will react in the transition to supersonic speeds,”
said Baumgartner. “But we’ve got to find out. Future aerospace programs
need a way for pilots and astronauts to bail out at high altitude in
case of emergency.”
Clark, who served as a crew surgeon for six Space Shuttle missions,
confirmed that data captured from the mission will be shared with the
scientific community, and noted that he expects long-awaited medical
protocols to be established as a result.
He also commented, “I think one
of the most profound benefits of Red Bull Stratos is going to be the
inspiration for our youth… The kind of stuff Felix is doing is like the
early astronauts and cosmonauts.”
Red Bull Stratos has secured specialized technical communications
from Riedel Communications that will facilitate the coverage of the Red
Bull Stratos mission with a live TV broadcast and live webcast delivered
by Microsoft Silverlight.
In parallel the mission will also be streamed
on mobile platforms through a mobile application powered by Ovi by
Nokia. The BBC is also producing a 90-minute
documentary on the mission.
Updates on the project can be viewed at:
www.redbullstratos.com
|