freefall in a stable attitude to the predetermined opening altitude of 5,000 feet MSL, where he pulled his main parachute handle. Aikins had originally predicted that Baumgartner would start to regain control at 30 seconds into the freefall. He assessed that the combination of virtually no drag in the extreme altitude, a lack of body motion and dexterity in the pressurized suit, and the desire to maximize speed to assure supersonic velocity were all contributing factors to the length of time required to stabilize. However, rotations did not reach a dangerously high level of speed/duration. Aikins credits Baumgartner’s physical and mental training for helping him to recover from rotation not once but twice in the descent.
CONCLUSIONS Drogue: Extensive drogue testing and experimentation enabled the team to devise parameters that afforded Baumgartner the opportunity to stabilize without use of the drogue yet have the system available to minimize risk. Although the drogue was not deployed in the record-setting jump, Baumgartner reported that knowing it was available increased his feeling of confidence and security. Parachute system: The mission’s one-of-a-kind system worked flawlessly. Altimeter: The newly configured altimeter was accurate, and Baumgartner found it easy to read. Aikins’ personal conclusion was that a very experienced jumper would not need a drogue parachute for stabilization when jumping from an altitude similar to Baumgartner’s exit of 38,969.4 meters / 127,852.4 feet – but an inexperienced jumper would be in danger without one.
Red Bull Stratos Scientific Summit
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