RED BULL STRATOS Frequently Asked · PDF file4 WHAT– Q: WHAT IS RED BULL STRATOS? A: Red...
Transcript of RED BULL STRATOS Frequently Asked · PDF file4 WHAT– Q: WHAT IS RED BULL STRATOS? A: Red...
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CONTENTS
WHAT, pages 4-8
Q. What is Red Bull Stratos?
Q. Where did the name �Red Bull Stratos� come from?
Q. Can the mission be quantified in terms of numbers?
Q. How did this mission get started?
Q. How dangerous is this mission?
WHY, pages 9-10
Q. What are the objectives of the mission?
Q. What kind of data will be examined?
Q. What is the value of this mission?
WHEN, page 11-11
Q. When will the final jump take place?
WHERE, pages 11-11
Q. Where will the final launch take place?
Q. Why is this mission being conducted in North
America?
WHO, pages 12-14
Q. Who is Felix Baumgartner, and why is he the person
undertaking this mission?
Q. What are some of Felix Baumgartner�s past
achievements?
Q. Who holds the current world records that Felix
Baumgartner is planning to surpass?
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Q. Who will communicate with Felix Baumgartner during
the mission?
Q. Felix Baumgartner is an ambassador for the Wings for
Life spinal cord research foundation, where can I
learn more about this organization?
Q. Who is working with Felix Baumgartner to make this
mission happen?
HOW, pages 15-19
Q, In a nutshell, how will the mission be carried out?
Q. How is Felix Baumgartner preparing for this mission?
Q. What kinds of tests will be conducted before the
mission launches?
Q. Why does Felix Baumgartner have to wear a special
pressure suit?
Q. What type of material is the high-altitude balloon
made of?
Q. What is the anticipated schedule for launch day?
Q. Is there an on-site base camp to control the
operation?
Q. Who will verify Felix Baumgartner�s records?
VIEWING/BROADCAST/MEDIA, page 19
Q. Can members of the public watch the mission on-site?
Q. Will this mission be broadcast live?
FURTHER INFORMATION, pages 20
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WHAT�
Q: WHAT IS RED BULL STRATOS?
A: Red Bull Stratos, created by Red Bull and Felix
Baumgartner, is a mission to the edge of space. Supported
by a team of world-leading scientists, engineers and
physicians, Felix will launch a high altitude balloon to
ascend to a height of around 120,000 feet. Once at this
height he will jump in freefall in an attempt to become
the first person to break the speed of sound unassisted.
The data captured by the Red Bull Stratos team in
preparation for and execution of the mission promises new
standards in safety for all who seek to expand the
boundaries of human flight.
Q: WHERE DID THE NAME �RED BULL STRATOS� COME FROM?
A: Red Bull Stratos is a mission to the stratosphere �
�Stratos� is quite simply an abbreviation of that term.
Q. CAN THE MISSION BE QUANTIFIED IN TERMS OF NUMBERS?
A. As the primary objective of Red Bull Statos is to deliver
valuable information for medical and scientific
advancement, it�s impossible to quantify the overall
mission in terms of mere numbers. However, what we can
highlight are records that the project hopes to achieve as
a result of the final jump.
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Felix Baumgartner is aiming to set four records � all of
which have stood for nearly 50 years � and in the process
set a new record for all time �
- The first human in history to break the speed of
sound in freefall, simultaneously setting a new speed
record for fastest freefall: expected to exceed Mach
1.0, likely more than 690miles per hour. (Current
record for fastest freefall: 614 miles per hour,
equivalent to Mach 0.9. The record for breaking the
speed of sound in freefall has never before been
successfully established.)
- Altitude record for freefall: expected minimum of
120,000 feet.
(Current record: 102,800 feet)
- Altitude record for manned balloon flight: expected
minimum of 120,000 feet. (Current record: 113,740
feet)
- Time record for longest freefall: expected duration
of approximately 5 minutes, 35 seconds. (Current
record: 4 minutes, 36 seconds)
And to put such extreme figures into context �
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- The altitude: a minimum of 120,000 feet. Felix will
jump from the capsule when he�s around 23 miles above
Earth�s surface � that�s about four times higher than
a commercial airplane�s cruise altitude.
- The speed: in excess of Mach 1.0. At around 35
seconds into his flight, Felix will become the first
person known to break the sound barrier with the
human body (without a vehicle). In other words, he�ll
likely be traveling over 690 miles per hour, speeding
downward at more than 11 miles per minute. In
comparison, a Boeing 747-400 airplane cruises at
about 567 mph, and a skydiver falling in the
familiar, belly-down position is moving at
approximately 120 mph.
- The temperature: minus 47 degrees Fahrenheit (at
least). Temperatures rise through the stratosphere;
so when Felix jumps, the temperature will probably be
a balmy minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit. But as Felix
descends, he (and his equipment) may have to
withstand temperatures as low as minus 47 degrees
Fahrenheit for a minute or so.
- The time: approximately 5 minutes, 30 seconds of
freefall: Although he�ll move faster than the speed
of sound, from a height of 120,000 feet Felix hopes
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to set a new time record by achieving the longest
freefall ever to return to Earth.
Q: HOW DID THIS MISSION GET STARTED?
A. In 2005, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner called an
American friend, Art Thompson, an engineer, to ask him to
collaborate on the mission that would become known as Red
Bull Stratos. Felix and Art realized that the mission �
jumping from a greater height than any human before, and
surpassing the speed of sound protected by nothing more
than a pressure suit � would require long-term dedication
and a scientific approach. They took their proposal to
Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who, as an aviation
enthusiast himself (Dietrich is not only a licensed pilot
but also conceived the Red Bull Air Race series), was
quick to see the potential benefits of the mission.
Dietrich realized that by making this commitment to
aerospace technology, Red Bull would be able to offer
contributions to the existing knowledge base that could
help to save the lives of future aviators and astronauts.
With the confirmation that Red Bull would be an active
participant and driver in the effort, Felix and Art chose
the scientific and medical team that could carry out such
a project, and mission preparations got underway.
Q: HOW DANGEROUS IS THE MISSION?
A: The edge of space is a hostile environment, and Felix is
literally stepping into the unknown. Success is by no
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means guaranteed; over the past 50 years several people
have died trying to surpass Joe Kittinger�s records. That
said, the mission team of experts and consultants ranks
among the very best in the world and was carefully
selected to anticipate and manage each detail along the
way. Long-term preparation, the best equipment and the
most innovative technology, not to mention years of
training and experience on the most elite missions the
world has known, make this project achievable and minimize
the risks as much as possible.
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WHY�
Q: WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE MISSION?
A: The goal of Felix Baumgartner � and everyone on the Red
Bull Stratos team � is to make a significant step forward
in the exploration of the outer layers of Earth�s
atmosphere, benefiting human, medical and scientific
interests.
In developing a program and medical protocols to overcome
the current limits of surviving a jump from the edge of
space, the team expects to simulate a full-scale emergency
escape operation of the kind that could be used for a team
of astronauts who need to egress from their craft at a
critically high altitude. Ultimately, this collective
information may help programs to develop new, lifesaving
procedures for astronauts and aviators.
Q: WHAT KIND OF DATA WILL BE EXAMINED?
A: To document the feasibility of freefall from a minimum
altitude of 120,000 feet, the team will assess the effects
� on the human body and on support equipment � of rapid
transition in speeds: accelerating from subsonic to
transonic and then supersonic velocity, and then
decelerating back from Mach levels to subsonic speeds.
Considering possible eventualities, the Red Bull Stratos
team will conduct research to produce new protocols for
prevention and treatment of certain altitude-related
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disorders. They will also examine data to determine
optimal methods for controlling body position in descent,
to avoid dangers like spinning and tumbling that can have
severe physiological effects and cause parachute
malfunction.
Q: WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THIS MISSION?
A: A half-century has elapsed since Joe Kittinger�s historic
descent laid the groundwork for the development of space
programs, yet remarkably few protocols have been
established for high-altitude freefall. For astronauts and
aviators, including members of the public who will someday
engage in the commercial space flights on the horizon, Red
Bull Stratos provides a real-world test of medical
protocols and a protective ensemble (pressurized capsule,
enhanced full-pressure suit and helmet) that hold promise
for a new benchmark in safety.
Further, Felix�s courage, and the skills and achievements
of the entire Red Bull Stratos team, can serve as
inspiration and education for the general public,
especially young people.
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WHEN�
Q: WHEN WILL THE FINAL JUMP TAKE PLACE?
A: The final jump for the record attempt is scheduled to
take place in spring/summer 2010. The mission is highly
dependent on wind and weather conditions, so adverse
weather could prompt delays or a postponement of the
launch.
WHERE�
Q: WHERE WILL THE FINAL JUMP TAKE PLACE?
A: Testing is taking place in numerous locations, and it has
been confirmed that the final jump will occur in North
America (exact location to be announced as the launch date
nears).
Q. WHY IS THIS MISSION BEING CONDUCTED IN NORTH AMERICA?
A: The Red Bull Stratos mission is being conducted in North
America because it offers an optimal combination of
suitable launch locations and local experts with extensive
background knowledge particular to such an endeavor. Also,
and although the mission team is international in scope,
many of the participants and organizations collaborating
on the effort are based in North America.
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WHO�
Q: WHO IS FELIX BAUMGARTNER, AND WHY IS HE THE PERSON
UNDERTAKING THIS MISSION?
A: Austrian native Felix Baumgartner may be one of the most
innately talented and fully dedicated aviation athletes in
the world. Best known for his winged freefall crossing of
the English Channel in 2003, Felix possesses a rare
combination of traits: he is courageous, reliable and
exceptionally fit, and he blends a high degree of
professionalism with a relentless search for new
adventures. It�s the unique combination of these skills �
teamed with his experience, athleticism and ability to
think and react quickly in difficult situations � that has
made him respected in the elite enclave of professional
B.A.S.E. jumpers and skydivers. He is also a licensed
helicopter and balloon pilot.
Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF FELIX BAUMGARTNER�S PAST ACHIEVEMENTS?
A: Particularly notable among Felix Baumgartner�s
achievements are:
completing the first winged freefall (unmotorized)
crossing of the English Channel (from Calais to Dover);
jumping from the PETRONAS Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia (1,479 feet, then the highest building in the
world);
launching the first B.A.S.E. jump from the Christ the
Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (a
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terrifyingly low 95 feet, requiring split-second
timing);
making the first jump off what is currently the world�s
tallest building, 101 Tower in Taipei (1,667 feet).
Q: WHO HOLDS THE CURRENT WORLD RECORDS THAT FELIX
BAUMGARTNER IS PLANNING TO SURPASS?
A: No one in history has successfully broken the sound
barrier in freefall. As for the other records: in August
1960, the U.S. Air Force project �Excelsior� reached its
apex after years of research and testing, as Captain Joe
Kittinger jumped from a balloon at 102,800 feet (altitude
record for manned balloon flight, altitude record for
freefall), reached the speed of 614 mph (speed record for
freefall), and sustained his freefall for 4 minutes, 36
seconds (time record for longest freefall).
Joe still holds three of those four records: however, the
current altitude record for manned balloon flight was set
in May 1961, by Commander Malcolm D. Ross and Lieutenant
Commander Victor A. Prather, Jr. of the U.S. Navy, at
113,740 feet. Red Bull Stratos is proud to that Joe
Kittinger serves a vital role on the mission team.
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Q. WHO WILL COMMUNICATE WITH FELIX BAUMGARTNER DURING THE
MISSION?
A. To minimize distractions and ensure that all
instructions are crystal clear, radio communications with
Felix will be channelled through a single capsule
communications (�capcom�) designee at the Mission Control
Center. Fittingly, the Red Bull Stratos capcom is Joe
Kittinger, the only man ever to have experienced anything
close to what Felix Baumgartner will encounter.
Q: FELIX BAUMGARTNER IS AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE WINGS FOR LIFE
SPINAL CORD RESEARCH FOUNDATION. WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE
ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION?
A: With the cognizance that spinal cord injury can affect
anyone, anywhere � not only persons in extreme endeavors �
Felix Baumgartner has for many years been an avid
proponent and supporter of Wings for Life. News and
information about the privately funded, nonprofit
organization, including research projects, trials and
surveys, and donation and grant opportunities, is
available at http://www.wingsforlife.com.
Q. WHO IS WORKING WITH FELIX BAUMGARTNER TO MAKE THIS
MISSION HAPPEN?
A: (See separate Mission Team document and individual bios
for more on Felix Baumgartner, Joe Kittinger, and other
team members.)
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HOW�
Q. IN A NUTSHELL, HOW WILL THE MISSION BE CARRIED OUT?
A: The mission will be conducted using a massive, high-
altitude scientific balloon (bigger than an American
football stadium) and a pressurized capsule. At altitude
the capsule will be depressurized and Felix Baumgartner
will exit the vessel in a specially modified full-pressure
suit.
During freefall it is anticipated that Felix will exceed
Mach 1.0 within the first 35 seconds. A specially designed
drogue (stabilizing) parachute will available for
deployment if necessary to avert spins and excessive Mach
speeds. Upon Felix�s landing, a complete medical
evaluation by the mission�s expert team will assess the
effects of the effort. Physiological and other data
tracked throughout the mission, as well as medical
protocols, will be documented, and the results will be
shared with the scientific and medical community.
Q: HOW IS FELIX BAUMGARTNER PREPARING FOR THIS MISSION?
A: Felix Baumgartner�s personalized preparation plan
includes training in an altitude chamber to experience the
effects of hypoxia (reduced oxygen), hyperventilation and
rapid decompression, including the use of a high-altitude
pressure suit under various conditions. Felix also trains
in a vertical wind tunnel to establish optimal freefall
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position(s) in his pressurized suit. Throughout the months
of intensive training Felix is also making test jumps
successive altitudes, each attempt taking him higher than
the last.
Q. WHAT KINDS OF TESTS WILL BE CONDUCTED BEFORE THE MISSION
LAUNCHES?
A. The many tests involved in this mission include altitude
chamber tests, jump tests of the parachute systems,
vertical wind tunnel tests, unmanned balloon flights to
assess subsystems like telemetry, GPS, and cameras, and
countless smaller tests at the various component
fabrication facilities.
Q: WHY DOES FELIX BAUMGARTNER HAVE TO WEAR A SPECIAL
PRESSURE SUIT?
A: Without a pressure suit, the gases in Felix�s blood and
tissues (e.g., nitrogen) would expand dangerously above
62,000 feet � a phenomenon that has been popularly, if
inaccurately, described as �boiling.� Felix will wear what
is called a �full-pressure� suit to maintain the pressure
around his body at a level sufficient to prevent such
expansion. The suit will also insulate him from the
extremely cold temperatures he will encounter during the
freefall phase of the jump, which may be as low as minus
47 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Q: WHAT TYPE OF MATERIAL IS THE HIGH-ALTITUDE BALLOON MADE
OF?
A: The balloon is constructed of strips of high-
performance polyethylene (plastic) film, their seams heat
sealed, and polyester load tapes. In this type of massive
balloon construction, the film is extraordinarily thin,
while the tape carries most of the load. This results in
low weight and high strength � the ideal combination for a
safe flight.
Q: WHAT IS THE ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE FOR LAUNCH DAY?
A: Launch day activities are shaping up like this: the
launch of the balloon is planned 30 minutes before dawn,
as early morning is typically a calm time for both air
traffic and weather conditions. The balloon and the
capsule, with Felix Baumgartner inside, will climb over a
period of about three hours, entering the stratosphere at
approximately an hour into the ascent. At a height of
approximately 120,000 feet, Felix will depressurize the
capsule and inflate his pressure suit. Then he will open
the door, step out onto the platform and jump. Around 35
seconds later, he is expected to reach supersonic speed.
The freefall will take approximately five to seven
minutes, reaching a speed exceeding Mach 1.0 (supersonic).
At 5,000 feet above the ground, the main parachute will
deploy automatically, and Felix will continue to descend
for roughly 10 minutes, guiding the parachute as necessary
for a safe landing. Once Felix is safely on the ground,
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the capsule and balloon will be released to descend for
retrieval. The entire flight and descent, including
landing of the capsule and balloon, should require less
than four hours.
Q: IS THERE AN ON-SITE BASE CAMP TO CONTROL THE OPERATION?
A: Yes � a sophisticated Mission Control Center will be
the heart of technical operations. There, the ground crew
will be able to communicate with Felix Baumgartner (and
vice versa) through all phases of this final jump.
Besides serving as the base for the ground crew and
deployment of Retrieval Teams, this vital hub will control
all aspects of the record jump, receiving and documenting
GPS, navigation and telemetry data; providing computer
support; hosting live video production, radio links and
communication; and providing the many additional technical
tools and resources required to pull off such an ambitious
enterprise.
Q. WHO WILL VERIFY FELIX BAUMGARTNER�S RECORDS?
A. To ensure that appropriate procedures are followed and
accurate measurements are captured, Felix�s records will
be verified by the world�s governing body for air sports
and aeronautical world records, the Fédération
Aéronautique Internationale (FAI - World Air Sports
Federation). Felix Baumgartner is targeting several
records � such as "altitude record for freefall," "speed
record for fastest freefall," "time record for longest
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freefall" and "highest manned balloon altitude" � some of
which are already officially recognized categories by the
FAI. The others, if verified and accepted as anticipated,
will be formally recorded for the first time in history.
VIEWING/BROADCAST/MEDIA�
Q: CAN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WATCH THE MISSION ON-SITE?
A: On such a challenging and dangerous mission, it�s
inadvisable for the production team to allow public
involvement at or near the launch location: security is of
the essence, and it is critical for the team to maintain
focus and concentrate on the complex technical aspects of
the endeavor. But because this historic event is not to be
missed, the mission�s broadcasting team is preparing for
unprecedented television and online coverage.
Q: WILL THIS MISSION BE BROADCAST LIVE?
A: Yes. The plan is to broadcast critical moments of the
mission day live, worldwide on TV, on the Internet and via
the news media. Specially developed, high-tech cameras
will serve as the basis for an exceptional audio and
television transmission. Breathtaking camera angles and a
production in high definition are just some aspects of
this impressive broadcast.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Q: WHERE CAN I FIND GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MISSION? A: For more information, please visit www.redbullstratos.com
Q. WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION? For all requests pertaining to partnership, sponsorship, or similar support for the mission:
Christiane Hoffmann, International Project Management (based out of Austria)
Phone: +43 664 8534 220 Email: [email protected] For all media enquiries: Red Bull Stratos Global Communications & Media Team [email protected] Trish Medalen (US-based): [email protected] /+1 415 302 1400 Ravi Matharu (UK-based): [email protected] / +44 (0)7850 022565