Red Bull Stratos
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:51:39 PM Wikipedia source
Red Bull Stratos was a high-altitude Red Bull Stratos skydiving project involving Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner. On 14 October 2012, Baumgartner flew approximately 39 kilometres (24 mi) into the stratosphere over New Mexico, United States, in capsule N502FB carried by 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. Reaching 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph)—Mach 1.25—Baumgartner broke the sound barrier on his descent, becoming the first human to do so without any form of engine power. Measurements show Baumgartner also broke two other world records. With a final altitude of 38,969 m (127,851 ft; 24 mi), Baumgartner broke the unofficial record for the highest manned balloon flight of 37,640 m (123,491 ft) previously set by Nick Piantanida. He also broke the record for the highest-altitude jump, set in 1960 by USAF Colonel Joseph Kittinger, who was Baumgartner's mentor and capsule communicator at mission control. These claims were verified by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI). Baumgartner's height record has since been surpassed by Alan Eustace.
Infobox
Tables
| Attempt | Planned | Result | Turnaround | Reason | Decision point | Weather go (%) | Notes |
| 1 | 9 Oct 2012, 11:40:00 am | Scrubbed | — | Weather | 9 Oct 2012, 11:42 am | High winds at launch site. | |
| 2 | 14 Oct 2012, 9:30:00 am | Success | 4 days 21 hours 50 minutes |
| Graph data | |||
| Data from mission page. Elevation shown above sea level. | |||
| Time, min | Elevation, ft(m) | Delta time, min | Speed, ft/min |
| 0 | 3,671(1118) | 0 | |
| 9.77 | 14,800(4511) | 9.77 | 1,515.36 |
| 10.47 | 15,500(4724) | 0.70 | 1,000.00 |
| 11.47 | 16,500(5029) | 1.00 | 1,000.00 |
| 12.43 | 17,500(5334) | 0.97 | 1,034.48 |
| 13.40 | 18,500(5638) | 0.97 | 1,034.48 |
| 14.35 | 19,500(5943) | 0.95 | 1,052.63 |
| 18.23 | 23,500(7162) | 3.88 | 1,030.04 |
| 20.08 | 25,500(7772) | 1.85 | 1,081.08 |
| 21.87 | 27,500(8382) | 1.78 | 1,121.50 |
| 23.70 | 29,500(8991.6) | 1.83 | 1,090.91 |
| 25.48 | 31,500 | 1.78 | 1,121.50 |
| 27.40 | 33,500 | 1.92 | 1,043.48 |
| 29.32 | 35,500 | 1.92 | 1,043.48 |
| 33.85 | 39,500 | 4.53 | 882.35 |
| 36.00 | 41,500 | 2.15 | 930.23 |
| 40.03 | 45,500 | 4.03 | 991.74 |
| 42.23 | 47,500 | 2.20 | 909.09 |
| 43.30 | 48,500 | 1.07 | 937.50 |
| 45.32 | 50,000 | 2.02 | 743.80 |
| 47.18 | 51,500 | 1.87 | 803.57 |
| 49.95 | 53,500 | 2.77 | 722.89 |
| 51.55 | 54,500 | 1.60 | 625.00 |
| 54.75 | 56,500 | 3.20 | 625.00 |
| 56.70 | 58,500 | 1.95 | 1,025.64 |
| 58.80 | 60,000 | 2.10 | 714.29 |
| 61.45 | 61,500 | 2.65 | 566.04 |
| 64.78 | 64,500 | 3.33 | 900.00 |
| 66.97 | 66,500 | 2.18 | 916.03 |
| 71.58 | 68,500 | 4.62 | 433.21 |
| 72.85 | 69,500 | 1.27 | 789.47 |
| 75.77 | 71,500 | 2.92 | 685.71 |
| 77.57 | 73,000 | 1.80 | 833.33 |
| 78.97 | 74,500 | 1.40 | 1,071.43 |
| 80.00 | 75,500 | 1.03 | 967.74 |
| 81.87 | 77,000 | 1.87 | 803.57 |
| 83.88 | 78,500 | 2.02 | 743.80 |
| 85.77 | 80,000 | 1.88 | 796.46 |
| 86.65 | 81,000 | 0.88 | 1,132.08 |
| 87.52 | 82,000 | 0.87 | 1,153.85 |
| 88.35 | 83,000 | 0.83 | 1,200.00 |
| 89.45 | 84,000 | 1.10 | 909.09 |
| 90.85 | 85,000 | 1.40 | 714.29 |
| 92.55 | 86,500 | 1.70 | 882.35 |
| 93.45 | 87,500 | 0.90 | 1,111.11 |
| 94.43 | 88,500 | 0.98 | 1,016.95 |
| 96.70 | 90,500 | 2.27 | 882.35 |
References
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- The Telegraphhttps://web.archive.org/web/20121011074203/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9600661/Felix-Baumgartner-to-make-space-jump-attempt-on-Sunday.html
- Wiredhttps://www.wired.com/autopia/2013/10/pov-red-bull-stratos-jump/
- airandspace.si.eduhttps://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/red-bull-stratos-capsule/nasm_A20180108000
- Telegraphhttps://web.archive.org/web/20121010040115/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9595760/Skydiver-Felix-Baumgartner-attempts-to-break-sound-barrier-live.html
- Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2012/10/09/red-bull-stratos-live-blog-watch-felix-baumgartner-break-speed-of-sound/
- Telegraphhttps://web.archive.org/web/20121015004821/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9607604/Skydiver-Felix-Baumgartner-attempts-to-break-sound-barrier-live.html
- BBChttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19943590
- New Zealand Heraldhttps://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20121015073004/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10840566
- The Pre-Astronauts: Manned Ballooning on the Threshold of Spacehttps://books.google.com/books?id=1QS38bu9iTwC&pg=PA267
- Magnificent Failure: Free Fall from the Edge of Spacehttps://archive.org/details/magnificentfailu00crai
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- New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1966/02/03/archives/chutist-changes-mind-123500-feet-in-sky.html
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- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/faster-than-the-speed-of-sound-the-man-who-falls-to-earth-1877875.html
- "Daredevil to Plunge From Outer Space in Supersonic Suit"https://web.archive.org/web/20100414232320/http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/04/09/felix-baumgartner-red-bull-supersonic-suit/
- Red Bull Stratos Mission Press Releaseshttps://www.redbullcontentpool.com/content/stratos/products/red_bull_stratos_mission_accomplished
- The Wall Street Journalhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704164004575548514271289990
- "Statement regarding Red Bull Stratos"https://web.archive.org/web/20101213191127/http://redbullstratos.digitalnewsagency.com/story/view/4992-statement-regarding-red-bull-stratos/all
- "Official statement on closing of legal case"https://web.archive.org/web/20111227014738/http://www.redbullstratos.com/JumpOnHold.aspx
- The Daily Telegraphhttps://web.archive.org/web/20120205104657/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/9061387/Sky-diver-to-break-sound-barrier-with-jump-from-edge-of-space.html
- The Christian Science Monitorhttps://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0315/Skydiver-jumps-13.6-miles-on-path-to-world-s-highest-jump
- "Skydiver Fearless Felix jumps from 18 miles up"http://phys.org/news/2012-07-parachutist-stratospheric.html
- Wiredhttps://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/07/felix-baumgartner-redbull-stratos/
- Yahoo! Newshttps://news.yahoo.com/skydiver-fearless-felix-jumps-18-miles-161900738.html
- New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/science/16tier.html?src=me&ref=general
- USA Todayhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/ondeadline/2012/10/09/skydiver-new-mexico-austrian-baumgartner-sound-barrier/1622139/
- "Launch Progress"https://web.archive.org/web/20120608223402/http://www.redbullstratos.com/the-mission/launch-progress/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/10/09/us/ap-us-supersonic-skydiver.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/us/new-mexico-jump-is-delayed.html?_r=0
- "Red Bull Stratos Felix Baumgartner space jump postponed"https://web.archive.org/web/20121012002237/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news%2Fnational_world&id=8841978
- "Watch Felix Baumgartner's Record-Setting Jump From 120,000 Feet Live"http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-10/watch-felix-baumgartners-record-setting-jump-32000-feet-live
- "Mission to the Edge of Space: Live"https://web.archive.org/web/20121213061237/http://www.redbullstratos.com/live/
- ITNhttp://www.itv.com/news/2012-10-14/felix-baumgartner-skydive-red-bull-stratos/
- Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/post/felix-baumgartner-tries-record-breaking-jump-again-live-blog/2012/10/14/b7ddfc18-159d-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_blog.html
- Forbeshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2012/10/14/red-bull-stratos-live-watch-as-felix-baumgarter-goes-supersonic/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/oct/14/felix-baumgartner-sound-barrier-live
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/skydiver-baumgartner-breaks-record-for-highest-ever-parachute-jump-8206637.html
- "YouTube Blog, Mission complete: Red Bull Stratos lands safely back on Earth"http://youtube-global.blogspot.ca/2012/10/mission-complete-red-bull-stratos-lands.html
- "Final Numbers Are In: Space Jump Breaks YouTube Record"http://mashable.com/2012/10/15/space-jump-youtube-record/
- NY Daily Newshttps://web.archive.org/web/20121018071420/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/felix-baumgartner-feel-broke-sound-barrier-article-1.1183735
- "Felix Baumgartner's jump from space's edge watched by millions"https://web.archive.org/web/20121018071353/http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/felix-baumgartner-s-jump-from-space-s-edge-watched-by-millions-1.4115479
- "Red Bull Stratos: The Facts Speak For Themselves"http://www.redbull.com/cs/Satellite/en_INT/Article/Red-Bull-Stratos-The-Facts-Speak-For-Themselves-021243272064887
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/shortcuts/2012/oct/15/felix-baumgartner-skydive-key-questions-answered
- Red Bull Stratos Newsroomhttps://www.redbullcontentpool.com/content/stratos/products/mission_red_bull_stratos_lifts_off_in_roswell_new_mexico
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/post/felix-baumgartner-tries-record-breaking-jump-again-live-blog/2012/10/14/b7ddfc18-159d-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_blog.html?tid=sm_twitter_washingtonpost
- Sciencehttps://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.327.5966.627-c
- "Charting new possibilities in human flight, aerospace medicine, and high-altitude escape systems"http://www.redbullstratos.com/science/
- "Skydiver Felix Baumgartner breaks sound barrier"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19943590
- Social Media Crisis Communications: Preparing for, Preventing, and Surviving a Public Relations #FAIL
- Discover Magazinehttp://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/tag/felix-baumgartner/#.UYcFFqvwI98
- WRAL-TVhttp://www.wral.com/jump-from-space-not-quite/11666095/