RED BULL STRATOS Frequently Asked Questions
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RED BULL STRATOS Frequently Asked Questions January 2010 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? 2 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 3 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. 4 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 … 5 - 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 6 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 7 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. 8 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 9 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. 10 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.