Mason Blake
On 14 October 2012, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner became the first person to break the sound barrier outside a vehicle. Baumgartner completed a parachute jump from a height of 38,969.4 metres (127,852 ft) and reached a maximum velocity of 1,342-1,357.64 km/h (833.9-843.6 mph). Baumgartner's jump was part of the $20-million Red Bull Stratos project, which aimed to provide valuable data for the development of high-performance, high-altitude parachute systems and emergency evacuation procedures from vehicles passing through the stratosphere.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Felix Baumgartner |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Profession | Skydiver, extreme sportsman, BASE jumper |
| Date of record-breaking jump | 14 October 2012 |
| Jump height | 38,969.4 metres (127,852 ft) |
| Maximum speed | 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph) |
| Sound barrier speed | 768 mph |
| Mach number | 1.25 |
| Free fall duration | 4 minutes and 19 seconds |
| Total jump duration | Approximately 10 minutes |
| Project | Red Bull Stratos |
| Project cost | $20 million (£12.45 million) |
| Project sponsor | Red Bull GmbH |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Felix Baumgartner's speed
On 14 October 2012, Austrian skydiver and BASE jumper Felix Baumgartner broke the sound barrier in a record-breaking jump from the edge of space. Baumgartner's jump was part of the $20-million Red Bull Stratos project, which saw him fly approximately 39 kilometres (24 miles) into the stratosphere over New Mexico in a helium balloon. He then free fell in a pressure suit before parachuting to Earth. The total jump took approximately ten minutes.
During his descent, Baumgartner reached a maximum velocity of 1,357.64 kilometres per hour (843.6 miles per hour; 377.1 metres per second), or Mach 1.25. This speed broke the sound barrier, making Baumgartner the first human to break the sound barrier outside a vehicle. Baumgartner was in freefall for four minutes and 19 seconds, a shorter fall time than the record set by his mentor, Joseph Kittinger, in 1960.
Baumgartner's speed was so fast that he became the first person to break the sound barrier relative to the surface without vehicular power. He also broke skydiving records for exit altitude (38,969.3 metres), vertical freefall distance without a drogue parachute, and vertical speed without a drogue. Baumgartner's speed was so extreme that he described the fall as "really brutal" and said he thought he would "lose consciousness".
The Red Bull Stratos project provided invaluable data for the development of high-performance, high-altitude parachute systems. The information gathered will also be used to develop new ideas for emergency evacuation from vehicles, such as spacecraft, passing through the stratosphere. Baumgartner's jump has set a new standard for aviation and improved the safety of space professionals and potential space tourists.
Artillery Shells: Faster Than Sound?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Red Bull Stratos project
On 14 October 2012, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner became the first human to break the sound barrier without vehicular power during a record-breaking jump as part of the Red Bull Stratos project. The $20-million project saw Baumgartner jump from a height of 38,969.4 metres (127,852 ft) in a pressure suit, freefalling for four minutes and 19 seconds before deploying his parachute. He reached a maximum speed of 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph) during his descent, becoming the first person to break the sound barrier outside a vehicle.
The jump itself was a dramatic and record-breaking event. Baumgartner lifted off from Roswell, New Mexico, USA, in a capsule carried by a giant balloon filled with helium. The balloon was as tall as the Statue of Liberty when fully inflated and had a capacity of approximately 850,000 cubic metres. Baumgartner's ascent took approximately two and a half hours, and he perched on the ledge of the capsule for a few moments before making his leap. During his descent, he experienced a spin that caused him to worry about losing consciousness, and he did not feel the sonic boom due to his focus on stabilisation.
Exploring Synonyms: The Many Words for 'Sound
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Baumgartner's pressure suit
On October 14, 2012, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner donned a specially designed pressure suit and jumped from a height of 38,969.4 metres (127,852 ft) above New Mexico, USA. Baumgartner's suit, designed by space-suit specialists at David Clark Company, had four layers: an innermost comfort liner, a bladder or gas container fitted to his body, netting to keep the bladder in place, and an insulating exterior.
The suit maintained an internal pressure equivalent to that found at 35,000 feet, which is similar to what a human would experience at that altitude. Baumgartner's suit was custom-tailored, allowing for greater maneuverability than previous pressure suits. This was critical, as he needed to be able to go from a pencil dive to a head-down "delta" position with his arms at his sides. If he made a mistake and tumbled into an uncontrolled spin, the force could have killed him.
Baumgartner hated the restrictive suit and had to undergo special training to get used to it. A psychologist was brought in to help him come to terms with being inside it, teaching him mental tricks to embrace its confines. Baumgartner's pressure suit played a crucial role in his record-breaking jump, protecting him from the extreme conditions he encountered during his descent.
The suit, along with the capsule and parachute used in the Red Bull Stratos mission, is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, USA.
Silence Your Android Keyboard: Easy Tricks to Mute Typing Sounds
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Breaking the sound barrier outside a vehicle
On 14 October 2012, Austrian skydiver and extreme sportsman Felix Baumgartner became the first human to break the sound barrier outside a vehicle. Baumgartner jumped from a height of 38,969.4 metres (127,852 ft) (approximately 39 kilometres or 24 miles) above Roswell, New Mexico, USA, reaching a maximum velocity of 1,357.64 kilometres per hour 843.6 miles per hour or Mach 1.25.
The jump was part of the $20-million Red Bull Stratos project, which aimed to provide valuable data for the development of high-performance, high-altitude parachute systems. Baumgartner wore a pressure suit and was carried to altitude in a capsule suspended from a giant balloon filled with helium. The balloon was as tall as the Statue of Liberty when fully inflated and had a capacity of approximately 850,000 cubic metres (30 million cubic feet).
During his descent, Baumgartner set several other world records, including the fastest speed of freefall, the highest freefall parachute jump, and the vertical distance of freefall. He also broke the unofficial record for the highest manned balloon flight. The entire jump, from leaving the capsule to landing on the ground, lasted approximately ten minutes, with Baumgartner in freefall for four minutes and 19 seconds.
HDMI Cables: Audio and Video Transmission
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The records broken
On 14 October 2012, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner broke the sound barrier in a freefall from a height of 38,969.4 metres (127,852 ft) as part of the Red Bull Stratos project. Baumgartner broke several records with his death-defying leap, becoming the first person to break the sound barrier without vehicular power and setting new records for the fastest speed of freefall, highest freefall parachute jump, and exit altitude.
The Red Bull Stratos project saw Baumgartner jump from a helium balloon in the stratosphere and freefall back to Earth. Baumgartner reached a maximum velocity of 1,357.64 kilometres per hour (843.6 mph), breaking the sound barrier and becoming the first person to do so outside of a vehicle. Baumgartner's speed exceeded the previous record for the fastest speed of freefall, held by Joseph Kittinger since 1960. Baumgartner's freefall lasted 4 minutes and 19 seconds, which was 17 seconds shorter than Kittinger's record.
In addition to breaking the sound barrier and setting a new record for the fastest speed of freefall, Baumgartner also set a new record for the highest freefall parachute jump. Baumgartner's jump took place from a height of 38,969.4 metres (127,852 ft), surpassing the previous record for the highest ever freefall held by Kittinger, who jumped from 102,800 ft (31 km) in 1960. Baumgartner's jump also broke the unofficial record for the highest manned balloon flight, which was previously set by Nick Piantanida at 37,640 m (123,491 ft).
Baumgartner's leap also set a new record for exit altitude, with Baumgartner jumping from a height of 38,969.4 metres (127,852 ft). This record was later broken by Alan Eustace in 2014, who jumped from 135,890 feet (41.42 km; 25.74 mi).
The Red Bull Stratos project was a high-altitude skydiving endeavour that cost $20 million (£12.45 million) and took five years to plan. The project aimed to gather data on the feasibility of high-altitude bailouts and the performance of high-altitude parachute systems, with the potential to improve safety for space professionals and potential space tourists. Baumgartner's jump was witnessed live by eight million people on YouTube, making it a historic and groundbreaking moment in the world of extreme sports and space exploration.
Sound's Echo: How Does it Work?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner broke the sound barrier on 14 October 2012.
Baumgartner broke the sound barrier by jumping from a height of 38,969.4 metres (127,852 ft) or 39 kilometres (24 miles) in a helium balloon. He fell for 4 minutes and 19 seconds, reaching a speed of 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph) or 834 mph.
Baumgartner broke the sound barrier without vehicular power on his descent, becoming the first person to do so. He also broke records for the highest freefall parachute jump, fastest speed in freefall, exit altitude, vertical freefall distance without a drogue parachute, and vertical speed without a drogue.
Baumgartner's achievement provided invaluable data for the development of high-performance, high-altitude parachute systems. It also set new standards for aviation and improved the safety of space professionals and potential space tourists.
