Red Bull Stratos

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Red Bull Stratos

Red Bull Stratos is a space diving project involving Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner. On 14 October 2012, Baumgartner flew approximately 39 kilometers into the stratosphere over New Mexico, United States, in a helium balloon before free falling in a pressure suit and then parachuting to Earth. The total jump, from leaving the capsule to landing on the ground, lasted approximately ten minutes. While the free fall was initially expected to last between five and six minutes, Baumgartner deployed his parachute after 4 minutes and 19 seconds.

Background

Red Bull Stratos was a project organized by Red Bull GmbH, an Austrian company known for its energy drink. The project was launched in an effort to break several records in the field of stratospheric exploration and to contribute to scientific research. The project was led by Art Thompson, a veteran of aerospace projects. The mission's medical director was Jonathan Clark, a former NASA flight surgeon.

Mission

The mission involved a team of experts from various fields, including aerospace medicine, engineering, pressure suit development, capsule creation, and balloon fabrication. The team worked together to ensure the mission's success. The mission's primary goal was to break the world record for the highest altitude free fall, a record previously held by Joseph Kittinger.

Jump

On the day of the jump, Baumgartner ascended to the stratosphere in a specially designed capsule attached to a helium balloon. He then jumped from the capsule, free falling for over four minutes before deploying his parachute. During the free fall, Baumgartner broke the sound barrier, reaching an estimated speed of 833.9 mph (1,342 km/h), or Mach 1.25. He became the first human to break the sound barrier without vehicular power on his descent.

Aftermath and Legacy

The Red Bull Stratos project was widely reported in the media and was watched live by millions of people around the world. The project has had a lasting impact on the field of stratospheric exploration and has contributed to the development of new technologies and techniques for high altitude safety.

See also

• Space diving
• Felix Baumgartner
• Red Bull
• Joseph Kittinger