Red Bull Stratos

UMZenki

UMZenki

Quick. ish.
So since we were getting all sentimental about space exploration with the Endeavour fly-by a couple weeks back, i thought i'd throw this up here for those that don't know about it. I started following it a few years back as they were just getting all the preparations together and it just happened to cross my mind again this morning. They've done 2 'prep jumps' already, both from well below 100,000ft. Turns out the window for the BIG jump opens on Monday (Oct 8th). 23 mile base jump anyone?... I think i'm safe in saying this will be one of the most amazing things done by mankind in my lifetime thusfar.

www.Redbullstratos.com

Red Bull Stratos, a mission to the edge of space, will attempt to transcend human limits that have existed for 50 years. Supported by a team of experts Felix Baumgartner plans to ascend to 120,000 feet in a stratospheric balloon and make a freefall jump rushing toward earth at supersonic speeds before parachuting to the ground. His attempt to dare atmospheric limits holds the potential to provide valuable medical and scientific research data for future pioneers.

The Red Bull Stratos team brings together the world's leading minds in aerospace medicine, engineering, pressure suit development, capsule creation and balloon fabrication. It includes retired United States Air Force Colonel Joseph Kittinger, who holds three of the records Felix will strive to break.

Joe's record jump from 102,800 ft in 1960 was during a time when no one knew if a human could survive a jump from the edge of space. Joe was a Captain in the U.S. Air Force and had already taken a balloon to 97,000 feet in Project ManHigh and survived a drogue mishap during a jump from 76,400 feet in Excelsior I. The Excelsior III mission was his 33rd parachute jump.

Although researching extremes was part of the program's goals, setting records wasn't the mission's purpose. Joe ascended in helium balloon launched from the back of a truck. He wore a pressurized suit on the way up in an open, unpressurized gondola. Scientific data captured from Joe's jump was shared with U.S. research personnel for development of the space program. Today Felix and his specialized team hope to take what was learned from Joe's jumps more than 50 years ago and press forward to test the edge of the human envelope.
Click to expand...
Kittinger's Jump (1960)

youtu.be/l2JYklqLpEc

Redbull Stratos (2012)

youtu.be/lB1PTOp1aKk
 
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lefty

lefty

Well-known member
Those two guys have some HUGE Balls!!!!

Hell, I get scared on rollercoasters.
 
Asphaultnaut

Asphaultnaut

Own the Mess You've Made!
I'm still waiting for the "bail out from orbit" jump. Grab a disposable heatshield similar to NASA's MOOSE and do the flaming fireball for part of the way, and ditch it when speed is low enough.

Bonus points for doing this with an old Corvette...
 
UMZenki

UMZenki

Quick. ish.
at what speeds does heat become an issue? i know they were saying the shuttle re-enters at around 1700mph and this guy will be cruising at 'only' around 700mph.

i just foresee a magical adventure pairing between this and virgin galactic. pay a base fee to be shot to sub-orbital altitudes and press the eject button. :shocker
 
SNsMoto

SNsMoto

Don't be that guy.
Bump


youtu.be/FHtvDA0W34I

Not sure if it was posted else where, but here it is in case anyone missed it. The thread title doesn't describe the epicness of this mission. "I'm going home" :rofl:rofl.......... balls of steel.
 
Brown81

Brown81

Well-known member
UMZenki said:
at what speeds does heat become an issue? i know they were saying the shuttle re-enters at around 1700mph and this guy will be cruising at 'only' around 700mph.

i just foresee a magical adventure pairing between this and virgin galactic. pay a base fee to be shot to sub-orbital altitudes and press the eject button. :shocker
Click to expand...

Not even close. Space shuttle re-entry more like 17,000 (seventeen thousand) mph. Well over Mach25.
 
Yakoo752

Yakoo752

USN
this almost didn't happen as the first few times Felix got into the suit he instantly aborted the "mission" since his claustrophobia was overcoming him.
 
Hooli

Hooli

Big Ugly
:laughing
 

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