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The Tech Behind Felix Baumgartner's Stratospheric Skydive

Posted by samzenpus on from the show-me-the-gadgets dept.

MrSeb writes "Felix Baumgartner has successfully completed his stratospheric skydive from 128,000 feet (39km), breaking a record that was set 52 years ago by Air Force Captain Joe Kittinger — that much we know. From the balloon, to the capsule, to the gear that Baumgartner wore during his 730 mph (1174 kph) free fall, the technology behind the scenes is impressive, and in some cases bleeding edge. ExtremeTech takes a deep dive into the tech that kept Baumgartner alive during the three-hour ascent and (much shorter) descent — and the tech that allowed us to watch every moment of the Red Bull Stratos mission live, as captured by no less than 15 digital cameras and numerous other scientific instruments."

72 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Helium. by pmsr · · Score: 1, Funny

    So, that's where all that Helium is going...

  2. Tech Fell behind by LinuxIsGarbage · · Score: 2

    I initially thought this said "The tech fell behind". As in Youtube collapsing in the middle.

    1. Re:Tech Fell behind by rHBa · · Score: 5, Informative

      Did you read abou this on Fox News by any chance? You obviously didn't watch the actual footage.

      Felix stabilised the spin manually WELL before deploying his parachute.

      They had a drogue chute ready to help stabilise the spin if it was required but he didn't use it because it could have prevented him from reaching Mach speed.

      If he HAD deployed his main parachute while in an uncontrollable spin it is VERY UNLIKELY that it would have deployed properly, much more likely he would have remained in a spin, not so fast but with his body mass further away from the centre of rotation and hence still massive G forces.

    2. Re:Tech Fell behind by kaiser423 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Yes, it was. At those altitudes, the only thing to prevent spins would be a gas reaction system like satellites use. Aka, vent gas out of pressurized bottles to counter-act unwanted spin. Having those on his suit would have added a ton of weight, and precluded him wanting to do this in just a pressure suit. There's no air or anything to allow him to do it himself. That's why when he jumped, he tried to be as still as possible. Even while spinning, the idea was not to move or react. Just wait until you hit enough atmosphere that you can move your body to stabilize yourself with the drag. When he started tumbling, I was screaming for him to hit the atmosphere and be able to stabilize himself. Then he did, and once that happened I knew that he had it nailed.

    3. Re:Tech Fell behind by J.J.+Dane · · Score: 1

      Shouldn't the tech fall at exactly the same speed ?

    4. Re:Tech Fell behind by laejoh · · Score: 2

      Maybe he farted?

    5. Re:Tech Fell behind by w_dragon · · Score: 1

      There's still some air up there - otherwise the balloon wouldn't be able to get there. There's not enough for a person to self-stabilize, but he had a chute that was set to go off automatically if he spun fast enough to be dangerous that would have been enough to stabilize him.

  3. Too bad. Helium could have been put to good use by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    like all of us talking in squeacky voices for a week.

  4. One small step for man, one giant leap for ... by mni12 · · Score: 5, Funny

    1. Figure out a cool project
    2. Find a sponsor
    3. Take one step to skydive from 128,000 ft
    4. Profit

    1. Re:One small step for man, one giant leap for ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You would've been more impressed if it were funded with tax dollars?

      Crazy is as crazy does. And I'm not talking about a skydiver.

    2. Re:One small step for man, one giant leap for ... by r1348 · · Score: 1

      Yes, and this is definitely why there's a line of people willing to skydive from 128,000ft. Easy money, right?

    3. Re:One small step for man, one giant leap for ... by plover · · Score: 1

      Oh, I suspect there'd be a long line of people willing to do this. But very few of them would have the means to do so, or the time or dedication required.

      The path into the history books isn't guaranteed to be paved with gold.

      --
      John
    4. Re:One small step for man, one giant leap for ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      When explaining his motives for joining Red Bull, Joe Kittinger explained that since 1960 he had been getting at least 1 phone call a month from some skydiver who wanted to beat his record and was asking for advice but when he explained to them the logistical challenges they faced they would quickly back off.

  5. Re:Too many stories by ThatsMyNick · · Score: 1

    This only the second article today and you are already complaining? I would expect one more article summarizing the press conference. And one or two dupes in the next slow news day. If you were expecting any different, you must be new here.

  6. Shoot? by Fnord666 · · Score: 4, Funny

    There is a fail-safe which could have deployed the main shoot if he had been moving at more than 115 feet (35 meters) per second at 2,000 feet (610 meters) or less altitude.

    You know, the parashoot. Idiots.

    --
    'The tyrant will always find pretext for his tyranny.' - Aesop's Fables
  7. 833.9 mph actually by Guru80 · · Score: 1

    According to This article at USA Today he hit 833.9 mph

    1. Re:833.9 mph actually by budgenator · · Score: 1, Informative

      Typo, somebodies finger hit the 8 instead of a 7

      --
      Apocalypse Cancelled, Sorry, No Ticket Refunds
    2. Re:833.9 mph actually by Penurious+Penguin · · Score: 1

      BBC reported the same number. If so, it's incredible. And even if it's 733.9, 'tis nothing to complain about.

      --
      Forward! -- Emperor Norton, 2012
    3. Re:833.9 mph actually by udoschuermann · · Score: 4, Informative

      Indeed, during the press conference the following figures were stated at least twice:

      Exit altitude: 128100 ft (39045m) [record]
      Free fall time: 4m 20s
      Free fall distance: 119826 ft (36529m)
      Max velocity: 373 m/s (1342.8 km/h, 833.9 mph, Mach 1.24) [record]

      A third record would be the maximum distance of ascent with a human-occupied balloon, which may exceed the 39045m of exit altitude, as the balloon appeared to descend somewhat before Baumgartner exited. Actually, if the telemetry information displayed on the feed can be trusted then he reached at least 39068m (128177 ft) at the time that he was first sticking his feet out into the open.

      No matter the numbers, this is an impressive achievement!

      --
      --Udo.
    4. Re:833.9 mph actually by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Heh. Tis you who is the tool!

    5. Re:833.9 mph actually by __aaltlg1547 · · Score: 1

      Well it's not physically challenging or technically challenging for the person to get in or out of the balloon. It's more a mental challenge to psych yourself up to it. Also the space suit and capsule you can do it in are technically challenging but really it can be done with rather old tech.

    6. Re:833.9 mph actually by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      Also the space suit and capsule you can do it in are technically challenging but really it can be done with rather old tech.

      Technically, he's not the first to do a supersonic jump. An earlier recorded event had a test pilot and his specialist violently ejected from their SR-71 when it broke up at Mach 3+.

      Of course, it wasn't too high up (only 70k ft) but it was supersonic (just horizontally, instead of vertically). I would be surprised if a lot of what was learned came from that event.

    7. Re:833.9 mph actually by arkane1234 · · Score: 2

      Wow.. you can generalize just about anything.

      Jump:
      Guy steps in balloon, 3 hours later steps out of ballon (sic), some minutes later he deploys his chute

      land speed record:
      guy gets in vehicle, accelerates, deploys chute to decelerate.

      Moon landing:
      guys get into capsule, fire spews from the bottom of rocket, guys step out of capsule after it lands

      Seriously, don't generalize, it makes you look stupid.

      --
      -- This space for lease, low setup fee, inquire within!
  8. Re:Too many stories by multiben · · Score: 3, Interesting

    To be fair, they point to different articles which happen to be on the same subject. The first was all about the jump and links so we could watch it, the second is all about the tech behind the jump. Personally I liked both posts. But if I hadn't liked the second post it would only have taken up a few seconds of my day to figure it out.

  9. Not the first by onyxruby · · Score: 4, Informative

    He was not the first to parachute faster than the speed of sound. He was the first to do so voluntarily. Of the first two people to do this, one of them died in the air. Not an easy feat.

  10. They forgot two critical elements by Grayhand · · Score: 2

    The most essential pieces of equipment were a bottle of Jack Daniels and a blindfold.

  11. I wonder what went through his head as he fell by antdah · · Score: 2

    "Hello Ground!" or "oh no, not again"

    I bet it was one of them though.

    1. Re:I wonder what went through his head as he fell by plover · · Score: 2

      "Hello Ground!" or "oh no, not again"

      I bet it was one of them though.

      Initial camera footage of his passing a bowl of petunias was mysteriously erased.

      --
      John
  12. One important piece of tech was still missing by StripedCow · · Score: 1

    The recording of this event, while impressive, missed one crucial bit of technology: a humidity meter.
    Now we'll never know if he was the first to make this jump without wetting his pants in the process.

    --
    If Pandora's box is destined to be opened, *I* want to be the one to open it.
    1. Re:One important piece of tech was still missing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The adults here call that a hygrometer.

  13. Re:Too many stories by evilviper · · Score: 2, Informative

    Personally I liked both posts. But if I hadn't liked the second post it would only have taken up a few seconds of my day to figure it out.

    You
    have
    seriously
    underestimated
    the
    scope
    of my
    complaint

    --
    Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
  14. Where the hell is the Mach 1 headcam...? by Nostromo21 · · Score: 1

    ...is what I'd like to know!? No doubt only available on some Red Bull(shite) pay-per-view site, pfft!

    Call me when someone jumps from the *true* edge of space, 100k+ (or better yet, from the upper Thermo/Exosphere 700+ kms! :).

  15. Stand by .... by PPH · · Score: 2

    We're getting a report about a balloon-launched capsule coming down on some guy's front lawn.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  16. Cocaine by Penurious+Penguin · · Score: 1

    After watching the fall, putting cocaine in Red Bull seems more practical than ever, even if the Germans beg to differ.

    The standard Red Bull found in most US stores doesn't contain coca leaves, but the Swiss cola variety does, and it's mighty tasty -- very herbal and spicy.

    A friend just noted something as I typed the above: This was literally a small step for man, but a rather giant leap for ...a man. Buzz would be proud anyway.

    --
    Forward! -- Emperor Norton, 2012
    1. Re:Cocaine by splatter · · Score: 1

      In Holland you can buy liqueur infused with coca leaves & other botanicals that while not cocaine will give you a nice speedy drunk feeling. No issues getting it into the US either.

      --
      "(I) have this unfortunate condition that causes me not to believe a single thing any politician says when a mic's on.
  17. Re:Too many stories by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

    You
    have
    seriously
    underestimated .
    the . V
    scope .
    of my
    complaint

    And we have seriously underestimated the scope of your Asperger's. (And I have underestimated Slashcode's retard factor -- 'too few characters per line'? WTF? Next, we won't be able to use Unicode. )

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  18. Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by viking80 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher as the molecular weight is only 1/2 of Helium. Also, it would not have wasted a precious finite resource for little gain.

    --
    don't cut it off www.mgmbill.org
    1. Re:Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by occasional_dabbler · · Score: 1

      ...molecular weight is only 1/4 of Helium... There, fixed that for you. And before we all reach for our tinfoil hats, here's why he didn't use hydrogen: http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/myths

      --
      "Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs," I said. "we have a protractor"
    2. Re:Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      ...molecular weight is only 1/4 of Helium...
      There, fixed that for you.

      And before we all reach for our tinfoil hats, here's why he didn't use hydrogen: http://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/myths

      Sorry mate - hydrogen is diatomic with a molecular mass of 2; helium is monatomic with a molecular mass of 4 (atomic mass units). Ask your neighborhood chemist if you want to get it right...

    3. Re:Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by justthinkit · · Score: 4, Informative
      OP is right. Here is Wiki's definition of molecular weight -- "The molecular mass (m) is the mass of a molecule."
      .

      A molecule of hydrogen is made up of 2 hydrogen atoms. A molecule of helium is made up of 1 helium atom. "2 times 1" is half of "1 times 4".

      --
      I come here for the love
    4. Re:Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by occasional_dabbler · · Score: 1

      Oops. My bad...

      --
      "Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs," I said. "we have a protractor"
    5. Re:Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by Zeussy · · Score: 4, Informative

      As both Helium and Hydrogen are much lighter than air, the difference in buoyancy between the 2 is only about 8%

      --
      Automation - The Car Company Tycoon Game
    6. Re:Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by ThatsMyNick · · Score: 3, Interesting

      What makes you think they wanted to go any higher? They infact had to vent out helium, by opening valves, so that they dont go any higher than 128K ft.

    7. Re:Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by Deadstick · · Score: 2

      For a balloon in air, the lifting power of hydrogen is only about 8.6% more than that of helium. Buoyancy depends on the difference in density between the gases inside and outside. The sea-level densities are:

      Air 1.2 kg/m^3
      Hydrogen 0.0899 kg/m^3
      Helium 0.178 kg/m^3

      So the density differences are 1.11 and 1.022 respectively.

      To put it in more concrete terms: If the lifting power of a gas were inversely proportional to its density, a vacuum bottle would lift infinite weight.

    8. Re:Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by silverspell · · Score: 1

      Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher as the molecular weight is only 1/2 of Helium. Also, it would not have wasted a precious finite resource for little gain.

      I had the same thought, but if WIkipedia is correct and I'm parsing the article correctly, the gain would've only been about 8% at sea level:

      Thus hydrogen's additional buoyancy compared to helium is: 1.202 / 1.113 = 1.080, or approximately 8.0%.

      Now, as the balloon gained altitude, that percentage difference would've increased until the surrounding atmosphere has the same density as helium, at which point hydrogen would give an extra boost. But by that point the amount of lift itself will have drastically diminished (though the expansion of the balloon compensates for some of that, yes?) so you're chasing smaller numbers, and I don't know whether other factors like leakage and momentum become more important than absolute buoyancy.

    9. Re:Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by arkane1234 · · Score: 1

      Probably to keep the balloon from expanding too much, as well. The higher in altitude you go, the thinner the atmospheric pressure and the more the content expands.

      --
      -- This space for lease, low setup fee, inquire within!
    10. Re:Hydrogen would have gotten him a lot higher by ThatsMyNick · · Score: 1

      Actually if you see the video, they talked specifically about the balloon capacity (you can also visually see the spare balloon capacity (as a side note, it was fun to see the balloon keep expanding slowly occupying spare capacity, if you get a chance you should really watch the complete video)). The balloon could have expanded much more. The commentary specifically talks about not going higher than 128K for the safety of the jump. I assume they had a range for him, in which he could jump, and 128K was the higher end I guess.

  19. Another typo by occasional_dabbler · · Score: 3, Informative

    Just to show I do occasionally RTFA... "...the speed of sound — approximately 690 meters per second..." Not unless the air up there is 911 deg C it aint.

    --
    "Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs," I said. "we have a protractor"
  20. Re:Too many stories by PixetaledPikachu · · Score: 4, Informative

    Let's not forget all the Aussie stories plastered over Slashdot whenever certain "editors" are in charge..

    Aussie refers to Australian. Felix is Austrian

  21. Re:Unassisted by plover · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...Captain Charles Yeager became the first man to travel faster than the speed of sound in his X-1 aircraft. Daredevil Felix Baumgartner just became the first man to accomplish the same feat without a plane — or indeed any assistance at all.

    What about gravity?

    Gravity doesn't really exist. It's actually Intelligent Pushing, where an external all-powerful creator stretches his invisible arm out to make sure that nobody floats off the Earth, or falls off its edge.

    --
    John
  22. Live helmet cam by thoughtlover · · Score: 2

    Where was the helmet cam? I watched the event live from their site and thought that we'd see his perspective as he fell. Is there no tech available to do that? I find that surprising with seven years in the making. Did I miss something? Now that I'm thinking of it, it would have been much better if he jumped with a couple sharks sporting lasers --wearing live helmet cams, too.

    --
    No sig for you! Come back one year!
    1. Re:Live helmet cam by janek78 · · Score: 1

      The official site now has a video that includes some of the on-body camera shots, I am sure we will see many more of them as the footage is processed. I believe he had a couple cameras mounted on the suit, so don't worry.

    2. Re:Live helmet cam by bruce_the_loon · · Score: 1

      Downlink technology for the bandwidth needed for HD over 39km transmission distances isn't that small or power-frugal . Remember he has to carry it all, and then land it as well.

      --
      Trying to become famous by taking photos. Visit my homepage please.
  23. Re:Old tech by GTRacer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When Joe Kittinger jumped for Excelsior in the '50s and '60s, he was testing the feasibilty high-altitude escape systems. He succeeded, and in the process, set some very impressive and rather durable records. Stratos was a not-very-subtle ad-funded stunt show. There's real science being done but I have little doubt that it's ultimately in service to the sponsor (also Austrian).

    Whether or not Red Bull spent two years and who knows how much, why isn't this still one of the coolest things to happen in some time? Watching him stand there with the curvature of Earth below him is one of those things that makes me jealous. And there are some things being tested - newer versions of the high-alt suits and maybe more.

    However, I'm a little annoyed about people thinking that now astronauts and such can use suits like Felix's to escape bad situations in space. Felix jumped more or less straight down with almost no lateral velocity. Someone BASE-jumping from ISS may pull some staggering free-fall numbers (greater height for 9.8 (m/s)^2) but those won't likely compare to the 11,000 mph they're already moving parallel with the surface just to maintain orbit. Toasty!

    --
    Defending IP by destroying access to it? That makes sense, RIAA/MPAA. Go to the corner until you can play nice!
  24. There is a difference... by thrill12 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Baumgartner achieved speed of sound 'autonomously' without first sitting in a high-speed jet but by freefalling. All other examples are of pilots ejecting from a high-speed airplane, going over Mach using an engine. So while what you say is correct, I would rather emphasize the "freefall" versus "engine-powered" part :)

    --
    Slashdot: stuff for news, nerds that matter, matter for news, stuff that nerd
  25. Re:Old tech by TheLink · · Score: 1

    I wonder how many capable individuals would queue up to test stuff like this:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOOSE

    --
  26. Re:Old tech by Skinny+Rav · · Score: 1

    When Joe Kittinger jumped for Excelsior in the '50s and '60s, he was testing the feasibilty high-altitude escape systems. He succeeded, and in the process, set some very impressive and rather durable records. Stratos was a not-very-subtle ad-funded stunt show. There's real science being done but I have little doubt that it's ultimately in service to the sponsor (also Austrian).

    While it is all true, I am all for such ways to spend ad and marketing funds instead of just paying celebrities. Apple has reportedly spent 1 bn for marketing of iphone and ipad. Have they made anything really cool with all this money? I know that it is a matter of a different targetted group, but most Red Bull campaigns and stunts are awesome and some even borderline useful.

    Disclaimer: I have drunk Red Bull twice. Nevermore. Likewise other "energy drinks".

  27. Holy polysemy Batman! by srussia · · Score: 1

    Baumgartner achieved speed of sound 'autonomously' without first sitting in a high-speed jet but by freefalling.

    Now we'll have to ask: "Is that 'free' as in beer, speech, fall or will?"

    --
    Set your phasers on "funky"!
  28. So let me see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1
    In 1960 we managed 102,800 feet, now we can do 128,000 feet. An improvement of 25%. That's with 50 years of progress and bleeding edge technology. How much did computers improve in the same amount of time?

    Do you see now why it makes no sense to compare the evolution of information processing technology to physical technology?

  29. Hypoxic. by rew · · Score: 1

    Anybody watch the video and agree with me that he seemed severely hypoxic in his reactions to messages from ground control?

    29 release seatbelt. ... no reaction

    From then on, he's quite unresponsive. "say Roger if... " he responds with "roger", but that could just be a response to the "say roger" and not the part after the "if"....

    1. Re:Hypoxic. by Muad'Dave · · Score: 1

      It could've been that FB simply couldn't hear ground control. As an Amateur Radio operator, I was appalled at the horrible quality of the comms they were using. They couldn't hear each other half the time, and even at the best of times the transmissions were garbled beyond readability.

      I think there was a point where he went to an in-suit radio (possibly before step 29), and comms went downhill fast.

      --
      Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  30. 6 million people were able watch live on youtube by badzilla · · Score: 1

    Not as impressive as the actual jump but could not help feeling it was cool that I could do that.

    --
    "Don't belong. Never join. Think for yourself. Peace." V.Stone, Microsoft Corporation
  31. Re:Too many stories by worf_mo · · Score: 1

    Apparently the anonymous GP is in dear need of this t-shirt.

  32. Re:Old tech by QuantumPion · · Score: 3

    You can't "base jump" out of the ISS unless you have a portable jetpack capable of decelerating you to deorbit. You need a delta-V of around 225 ft/s. If you step outside the ISS, all that will happen is that you will continue orbit the Earth with the ISS. You would starve to death before deorbiting solely due to atmospheric friction.

  33. Re:Too many stories by Sique · · Score: 1

    Apparently, there are kangaroos in Austria too.

    --
    .sig: Sique *sigh*
  34. How many stories by rossdee · · Score: 1

    I'd guess about 10,500 to 11,000 if he was jumping from a building thats how many stories it would have.

  35. In space no one can hear you fall. by drainbramage · · Score: 1

    'Speed of sound' means little in a vacuum, at least that is what I hear.d.

    --
    No brain, no pain.
  36. Re:Old tech by ByteSlicer · · Score: 1

    Someone BASE-jumping from ISS may pull some staggering free-fall numbers

    Actually, no.
    Since the ISS is in orbit, any object detaching from it without propulsion would stay in almost the same orbit.
    To fall to the ground, one would first have to use a rocket to decelerate significantly.

  37. Re:How far? by Russ1642 · · Score: 1

    "Similar to Cameron’s sub, the capsule features a pressure sphere, although a six foot one made out of fiberglass and epoxy instead of the four foot version made from metal that Cameron needed." He also compares the pressurized capsule to James Cameron's sub, as if their designs are similar in the slightest. Designing for a vacuum is a hell of a lot easier than designing for the bottom of the ocean. What's with all the scientific reporters not having the slightest clue about their subject matter?

  38. 833.9 MPH (mach 1.24) - not 730 by Cutting_Crew · · Score: 1

    this was the the top speed , still unverified however. watch the press conference stats. He went faster than 730 MPH.

  39. Re:Old tech by mcgrew · · Score: 1

    What about someone jumping from a satellite in geosynchronous orbit?

    --
    Free Martian Whores!
  40. Re:no video during the free fall by arkane1234 · · Score: 1

    Therefor it didn't happen, right?

    --
    -- This space for lease, low setup fee, inquire within!