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‘Fearless’ Felix’s Supersonic Skydive Scrubbed by Wind

pstatz — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:00:18 +0000

Felix Baumgartner leaves his capsule after his stratospheric skydive from 120,000 feet was aborted due to high winds at the launch site in Roswell, New Mexico. Photo: Red Bull Stratos

Tuesday morning, “Fearless” Felix’s death-defying jump was postponed again due to strong winds, and disappointment spread throughout the web. Red Bull, which is sponsoring the stunt, assured fans that “it is definitely not off for good. We are just waiting to see when better weather conditions arrive.” Until then, join us and other fans at #wiredextra to discuss Felix’s dream of a record-setting skydive.

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Watch ‘Fearless’ Felix’s 23-Mile Supersonic Skydive Here Live

pstatz — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 01:09:57 +0000

Felix Baumgartner prepares to enter his capsule during a dress rehearsal for his stratospheric skydive from 120,000 feet on Tuesday. Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Just before dawn, “Fearless Felix” will don a custom-made spacesuit and ascend high over the New Mexico desert in a capsule suspended beneath an immense helium balloon, then fall to earth from 120,000 feet. The Austrian adventurer hopes to break an unofficial record Col. Joe Kittinger set with a leap from 102,800 feet in 1960, and expand our understanding of what happens during a free fall from extreme altitude. Such lessons could be valuable as commercial space flight takes off.

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What We Can Learn From ‘Fearless’ Felix’s Supersonic Skydive

pstatz — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 10:30:41 +0000

Felix Baumgartner, stepping into the void from 71,580 feet during a test jump in March. The Austrian adventurer plans a record-setting jump from 120,000 feet on Tuesday. Photo: Jay Nemeth/Red Bull Content Pool

Felix Baumgartner’s supersonic skydive from 23 miles up is many things: an attempt to set a record and, yes, an opportunity to sell a lot of Red Bull, but also a chance to learn more about free falling from extreme altitude — lessons that could be valuable as commercial space flight takes off.

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