5 Reasons Why The Felix Baumgartner (Red Bull Stratos) Spacedive Today Was Pure Awesome
Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 07:11PM 
Felix Baumgartner: successful jump from the Red Bull Stratos capsule today at 128,097 feet
Check out other recent Red Bull Stratos posts here on AirPigz
After trying but failing last week to launch the largest manned helium balloon ever from Roswell New Mexico, and then battling similar challenging winds this morning, Felix Baumgartner and the Red Bull Stratos crew succeeded in getting off the ground late this morning Mountain Time. And then after a successful ascent, Felix left the capsule step at 128,097 feet above the Earth setting records for the highest manned balloon flight, the highest jump ever, and the fastest freefall speed. The actual speed will be posted later once it's official, but it does indeed appear that Felix went faster than the speed of sound on his journey back to Earth!
The 4 minute 19 second freefall begins right here at 128,097 feet!
I was away from my office and my computer when the jump took place, but I did watch it live on my phone... a pretty unbelievable feat to say the least. How things have changed since the days when Joe Kittinger made his jump from 102,800 feet in 1960 - a record jump that stood until earlier today. Seeing Felix on the ascent and then leaving the capsule step live was amazing, awesome, and fantastic. What a thrill to be able to experience this project with a live broadcast!
I figured there were plenty of sources out there for info on the jump today, so rather than just repeat the same info I'm offering up 5 reasons why I think the Red Bull Stratos spacedive today by Felix Baumgartner was pure awesome.
Felix Baumgartner and Technical Project Director Art Thompson celebrate success!
Reason 1: Joe Kittinger involvement
The fact that the man who set the high altitude jump record as part of Project Excelsior back in 1960 was directly involved in the Red Bull Stratos project is simply spectacular. Had the 84-year-old Joe Kittinger only made a statement or posed for a pic or two with Felix, we would have missed out on the way that these two projects and these two very unique men have been brought together. Even more encouraging is that fact that this was never seen by either man as an issue of pride... Joe was thrilled to be part of the effort of another man to break his records. Unlike our modern culture of extreme sports and chest-beating self glory, this is how real men behave.
If you're interested in knowing more of Joe Kittinger's fabulous life, check out his autobiography Come Up and Get Me: An Autobiography of Colonel Joe Kittinger
Reason 2: the stunning live broadcast
I made reference to it above, but that live broadcast was a stunning achievement in itself - and it's so easy for us to overlook it, but it's the entire reason we were really able to experience the whole Red Bull Stratos project. Seriously, Felix Baumgartner left the step of the capsule at over 128,000 feet on a record-breaking skydive and we saw it live like it was something done everyday. That's simply amazing. I appreciate the effort put forth to make that broadcast work - not for what it did for entertaining me and everyone else who was watching, but also for what it did in exciting the hearts and minds of those watching who might be moved to get directly involved in aerospace. Sure, the real reason for the project and broadcast was to burn the Red Bull brand into your mind, but a whole lot more than that happened today.
I'll also add that I was really impressed how the broadcast wasn't over-performed or turned into a tabloid show full of a bunch of hysteria. It wasn't too dry to be boring, but it also wasn't full of superfluous talk. It was a job well done.
Felix Baumgartner immediately after landing on the record setting spacedive
Reason 3: it turned the public eye toward space projects
As we see more and more of space exploration become privatized, the Red Bull Stratos project seems to have done more for directly connecting the public eye to a space-oriented effort than anything since the moon landing back in 1969. Everyday people all across the world are talking about this and are at least somewhat interested in what was accomplished. The need to draw the brightest minds into aersopace engineering, as well as build public support for financial investment in privatized projects has been well served by the Red Bull Stratos project.
Reason 4: it was a great success
This one is pretty obvious, but the Red Bull Stratos spacedive by Felix Baumgartner today was pure awesome because it worked. It worked quite well in fact. We'll know more in the coming days about the details and challenges experienced, but from what I saw, the only significant issue was some fairly high-rate rotation that Felix experienced in the first third of the freefall. This type of instability is completely expected since a large part of the freefall is done with very little atmosphere and thus very little air to use to create a stable fall. It was fantastic to watch live as Felix was able to get the rotation under control in a relatively short period of time and continue on with a great and stable descent!
The overall success of the project is key in giving confidence to private projects like this and is a real tribute to the hard work and discipline put in by so many people directly and indirectly involved in the project.
Felix Baumgartner and Red Bull Stratos literally on the top of the world earlier today
Reason 5: patience and discipline on display
In a culture that wants everything right now, the display of patience, discipline and perseverance by Felix and the entire crew was great to see. Real success doesn't come by demanding things go your way... aerospace-related projects are incredibly difficult to achieve safely, and the willingness to remain calm and patient is an absolute must. It was good for everyone watching to see a positive and collected Felix as the team battled the frustrating wind issues while trying to launch back on October 9th as well as early this morning. I believe the lesson here is: slow down and do things right, but don't ever stop!
Great job Felix and the Red Bull Stratos crew!
Reader Comments (9)
I do wonder where the capsule will go now they finished with it. Which museum will be lucky one get it as an exhibit
glen- good question... I don't know if we'll get it here in the US somewhere or if Red Bull will able to get it on their turf. I sure don't know anything about the real investment/ownership issues. I know I'd sure love to see the capsule tho : )
Thumbs up on all 5 points. I had to leave for work just as he slid his seat forward, thankful for DVR. It was a very professional, classy event. Wish NASA had cameras like that back in the day.
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