A Decade Since the Long Fall from Red Bull Stratos
Oct 26, 2022
By Thomas Paone
It has been 10 years since the high-altitude balloon flight of Felix Baumgartner in the Red Bull Stratos capsule and his exhilarating return to Earth. Baumgartner, an Austrian parachutist, was used to dangerous accomplishments, having completed numerous BASE jumps and other daredevil feats before setting his sights on the record jump. The Red Bull Stratos capsule was developed to include life support and communications equipment needed for an ascent above 120,000 feet into the atmosphere and exit in a specially-designed suit that allowed him to survive in the extreme cold and low oxygen environment.
USAF colonel (ret.) Joe Kittinger of the United States and Felix Baumgartner of Austria pose for a photograph at the press conference at the Hangar 7 in Salzburg, Austria on October 27, 2012. Photographer: Jörg Mitter
On October 14, 2012, Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos rose into the atmosphere under a huge helium balloon above the deserts of New Mexico under the watchful eyes of millions of online viewers as the attempt was broadcast live to the world. When the correct altitude was reached, Baumgartner stepped onto the ledge of the capsule as directed by Joe Kittinger, a former Air Force pilot who had previously held the record for highest parachute jump dating back to 1960. With a small hop, Baumgartner began his descent back to Earth, and reached a record speed of 843.6 mph, making him the first human to reach supersonic speeds in a free fall. He earned a total of three world records that day, including the highest balloon flight, the highest free fall, and the fastest speed ever achieved in free fall (though the highest free fall has since been superseded by Alan Eustace in 2014). Baumgartner landed safely back on Earth after 4 minutes and 20 seconds, cementing his place in the history of lighter-than-air flight.
Pilot Felix Baumgartner of Austria jumps out from the capsule during the final flight for Red Bull Stratos in Roswell, New Mexico, USA on October 14, 2012.
After the successful flight, Baumgartner was quoted in the October 15, 2012, edition of the New York Times saying, “It was harder than I expected. Trust me, when you stand up there on top of the world, you become so humble. It’s not about breaking records any more. It’s not about getting scientific data. It’s all about coming home.” The Red Bull Stratos capsule from which Baumgartner witnessed the top of the world (and returned to Earth) a decade ago is now part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and is on display at the Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.
The pressurized balloon gondola in which Felix Baumgartner ascended to an altitude of 127,852 feet–the edge of space–over Roswell, New Mexico on October 14, 2012.
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